couldn't continue running vs wouldn't be able to continue running

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Couldn't continue running' implies a physical or practical limitation that prevented someone from running, while 'wouldn't be able to continue running' suggests a hypothetical situation where the person is unable to run for some reason.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1017 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a physical or practical limitation that prevented someone from running.

"couldn't continue running"

This phrase is used to express a situation where someone was unable to continue running due to a specific reason, such as exhaustion, injury, or an obstacle.

Examples:

After twisting his ankle, he couldn't continue running.
She was so tired that she couldn't continue running.
Due to the heavy rain, the athletes couldn't continue running.
The pain in his side was so severe that he couldn't continue running.
The lack of proper footwear meant he couldn't continue running.

Show examples from the web [+]

Dec 30, 2014 ... After these months we just couldn't continue running HTTPS. Don't get me wrong. . We love the concept of HTTPS Everywhere that Google is ...
... get a small ranking boost on its search result pages, we jumped right on and switched our pages. After these months we just couldn't continue running HTTPS.
Mar 22, 2015 ... As I rounded the corner on the last mud-soaked uphill, I was fairly certain I couldn 't continue running up, and I was more certain I didn't want to.
Mar 20, 2015 ... The sessions with the orthopedic doctor a few weeks later, telling him and Newt that the latter couldn't continue running like he used to.

Alternatives:

couldn't keep running
couldn't go on running
couldn't carry on running
couldn't proceed with running
couldn't sustain running

This phrase is correct and is used to describe a hypothetical situation where someone is unable to continue running for some reason.

"wouldn't be able to continue running"

This phrase is used to talk about a potential future scenario where the person may face an obstacle or limitation that prevents them from running.

Examples:

If he broke his leg, he wouldn't be able to continue running.
Without proper training, she wouldn't be able to continue running for long distances.
In that heat, I wouldn't be able to continue running at that pace.
If the path is blocked, we wouldn't be able to continue running.
Without water, they wouldn't be able to continue running in the desert.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jul 9, 2013 ... Due to US foreign worker laws, Lea wouldn't be able to continue running Lealea Design and, as a result, we couldn't keep doing the podcast in ...
Apr 1, 2014 ... I ran the whole time during the race, I thought if I stopped at all, I wouldn't be able to continue running. I finished the race in 2:04 for my first half ...
Before I saw you, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to continue running extremely long distances. The nutritional and supplement programme was tailored to ...
Having turned fifty and sustaining some injuries, I knew wouldn't be able to continue running and enduring that pounding the rest of my life, I started to look at ...

Alternatives:

wouldn't be able to keep running
wouldn't be able to go on running
wouldn't be able to carry on running
wouldn't be able to proceed with running
wouldn't be able to sustain running

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couldn't continue running vs wouldn't be able to continue running