I could not have done that vs I was not able to

Both phrases are correct and can be used interchangeably depending on the context. 'I could not have done that' implies a sense of impossibility or lack of capability in the past, while 'I was not able to' simply states a lack of ability without emphasizing the past tense.

Last updated: March 22, 2024

I could not have done that

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express impossibility or lack of capability in the past.

This phrase is used to convey that something was not possible for the speaker to do in the past due to various reasons.

Examples:

I could not have done that without your help.
She could not have finished the project on time.
He could not have won the race without proper training.

Show examples from the web [+]

And I could not have done it without the brilliance of Liam McGuinnis.
I could not have done this without your recruiting skills, Abed.
I think I have managed that, but I could not have done it without a lot of support from my colleagues.
Meaning to do the best... I suppose I could not have done worse.
I think, however, that I could not have done this job alone, in any way at all.
Use your power of sight, and you'll see that I could not have done this terrible thing.
The only salvation for me is knowing I could not have done this.
Seriously, I managed to get a good run at it, and I could not have done it, honestly.
I was sure you could not have done such a thing.
And less about what I feel, or you could not have done this to me.
I cannot imagine that they could not have done, because it was something that the growth pattern of the company required them to keep growing .
I believe in the circumstances we could not have done any better, but those three played a major role in that.
I should also like to thank the other Anna for the substantial work she has done on this matter, something we could not have done without.
I MAY HAVE HAD THE MOTIVE, INSPECTOR BUT I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT
The reason why I could not have done those sets in daylight: It wouldn't have looked good.
I think that the Commission was quite right to present a communication in December 2002 on gender mainstreaming in the Structural Funds for 2000 to 2006; it could not have done so at a better time.
Regina, we could not have done better for Angelo.
You could not have done anything to anger him so.
Art could not have done the murders.
The truth is, is most surgeons Could not have done what she did that day.

Alternatives:

I was unable to do that
I couldn't have done that
I wouldn't have been able to do that

I was not able to

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express a lack of ability without emphasizing the past tense.

This phrase is used to simply state that the speaker did not have the ability to do something without focusing on the past tense.

Examples:

I was not able to attend the meeting.
She was not able to solve the problem.
He was not able to lift the heavy box.

Alternatives:

I could not
I couldn't
I was unable to

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I could not have done that vs I was not able to