Example sentences of "[pron] [verb] n't [be] able " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thanks to Karen 's attack I had n't been able to pee , and when my organ switched from reproductive to urinary mode I realized that my bladder was bursting . |
| 2 | More likely the net was carried away because the ground was bone dry and hard and I had n't been able to push the stakes deep enough into the soil . |
| 3 | I had n't been able to do that for so long . ’ |
| 4 | I could say some of the things I had n't been able to say when I left him , because I had n't shared his feelings then . |
| 5 | Still , it was the hangover of that piece of moral cowardice at Lochgair station , along with everything else , that led to me feeling so profoundly awful with myself that evening ( after the train finally did get into Queen Street and I walked back , soaked and somehow no longer hungry , in the rain to the empty flat in Grant Street ) , that mum had to call me there , because I had n't been able to bring myself to phone her and dad … and I still managed to feign sleep and a little shame and a smattering of sorrow and reassure her as best I could that really I was all right , yes of course , not to worry , I was fine , thanks for calling … and so of course after that felt even worse . |
| 6 | Well , in fact I did n't know , not for certain , but I could n't see any signs at all of brassière straps or elastic waistbands which I had n't been able to help noticing on all other women . |
| 7 | I was getting hungry and frustrated because I had n't been able to enjoy any of it . |
| 8 | I even carried out a double-bluff of appearing slightly guilty for the wrong reasons , so that adults told me I should n't blame myself because I had n't been able to warn Paul in time . |
| 9 | But I can assure you that I would n't have lasted five minutes in what , by any standards , is a very tricky and difficult market if I had n't been able to cope with the work . |
| 10 | Michelangelo , da Vinci , Bellini , Caravaggio , Bernini — half the world 's art treasures in one country , and I had n't been able to travel beyond the walls of the Victoria and Albert . |
| 11 | I have n't been able to explain this to Dr Grossman , because he would n't understand , but you will understand , and I hope be happy for me . |
| 12 | It 's been a bit of a pity , really , that rugby has taken over so much that I have n't been able to continue playing football . |
| 13 | ‘ I have n't been able to get enough this Christmas to satisfy my customers ' needs . |
| 14 | Most important was losing inches off my hips , which I have n't been able to do before … . ‘ |
| 15 | It was just as well because the back boiler in the kitchen split in two about fifteen years ago and I have n't been able to light a fire in the grate since . |
| 16 | ‘ From the moment I set eyes on you I have n't been able to think of anything else . |
| 17 | You know , I have n't been able to take my eyes off you ever since you came to our office . ’ |
| 18 | ‘ I have n't been able to examine the body fully , ’ said Dr Lawton at once . |
| 19 | ‘ I have n't been able to speak of this matter with Dr Armitage yet , but I 'm sure she will co-operate . |
| 20 | I have n't been able to find a plausible answer , and Aria UK were n't letting on either . |
| 21 | ‘ It has been a difficult year because I have n't been able to get into the side . ’ |
| 22 | ‘ I have n't been able to sleep because of all the worry . |
| 23 | ‘ It 's wonderful , ’ he said , ‘ I have n't been able to give her jewellery for a very long time . ’ |
| 24 | I did do that along with Ron and er they were speaking in terms of er a conjurer at under a pound a time and thing of that nature which should then come to a the pensioner 's category at Poole , so I took it back to Stuart and he said oh see what I can do Norman , and at the present moment it rests there because I have n't been able to contact Stuart at the moment owed to the holiday , but I shall be contacting him and hopefully we will also be doing two days , which is the Tuesday and the Thursday , also what they , er , he 's , he 's promised to do is to come half way with the cost of the jazz band , which is a great help . |
| 25 | Please can you tell me the name of the director , because he also directed Such Good Friends , and I have n't been able to remember his name ? " |
| 26 | I bump into a lot of people at conferences , so I have n't been able to write formally to thank you for the meeting because I do n't want anything on the record then |
| 27 | ‘ I 've tried to stop it , but I have n't been able to . |
| 28 | ‘ Although I have n't been able to convince myself . ’ |
| 29 | The police are n't telling us anything — I have n't been able to get as far as Marshall and the others just look mysterious and say they do n't know . ’ |
| 30 | I have n't been able to sleep or eat or anything . |