Example sentences of "[pron] [verb] never been able " in BNC.
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| 1 | It was Irene , for instance , who pointed out something I 'd never been able to put my finger on : that Tod ca n't talk and smile at the same time . |
| 2 | The nightmares stopped instantly after this explanation , and I was able to give lectures , stand up for myself and speak in public — all of which I had never been able to do before . ’ |
| 3 | I had never been able to understand them then , but I sympathized with them now . |
| 4 | I had never been able to do that , not with such unselfconscious pleasure , perhaps because deep down I had resented his existence which was preventing me doing all the marvellous things I had intended to do in the world . |
| 5 | I had never been able to persuade her to accept any money for her kindness and tried to reciprocate by doing any small repairs she needed to her flat , and by supplying occasional tickets for the theatre , for the tennis at Wimbledon , and for the races at Epsom . |
| 6 | Even when she was well , I had never been able to relax because I never knew from one day to the next how I was going to find her . |
| 7 | ‘ I 've never been able to , ’ said Lucy . |
| 8 | I 've often felt desperate too , but I 've never been able to talk about it because people think you 're being superior : holier than human . |
| 9 | I 've never been able to think so clearly in my life before . |
| 10 | I 've never been able to think such extreme thoughts in my life before . |
| 11 | ‘ There 's a parochial side to Scotland that I 've never been able to accept . |
| 12 | It 's the other kind of thinking I 've never been able to muster , the long-term stuff , ‘ Never confuse strategy with tactics , ’ one of my tutors advised me , but I ca n't even remember what the words mean . |
| 13 | ‘ Of course I 've never been able to cook . |
| 14 | I 've never been able to say rum a widow . |
| 15 | She makes a sort of crackling noise which I 've never been able to explain : it may be contentment — or perhaps she 's asking for more . |
| 16 | But I 've never been able to write except when I was stone cold sober . |
| 17 | ‘ You know I 've never been able to combine being a father with analysis . |
| 18 | I 've never been able to speak Spanish before , apart from a few odd phrases like spaghetti bolognese and virtuosi di Roma ! |
| 19 | I 've heard that there 's another door in the park somewhere , but I 've never been able to find it . |
| 20 | ‘ But I 've never been able to think straight where you 're concerned , ’ he said softly . |
| 21 | ‘ I 've never been able to get through to you , Julius . ’ |
| 22 | ‘ I 've never been able to respect people who go back . |
| 23 | But damn it to hell , I 've never been able to see clearly or think straight where you 're concerned — certainly not since you came to Taipei , and maybe not even six years ago either . |
| 24 | I 've never been able to find out what goes on at the ceremony , but , from what I 've heard , there is more to it than rolling up your trouser-leg . |
| 25 | ‘ Oh … er … well , I 've never been able to afford gear like this , ’ I said sheepishly . |
| 26 | Losing them was bitter , and my only reward is that now I can afford the one thing which with all my wealth and power I 've never been able to permit myself until this moment . |
| 27 | Soon I 'll have enough money for a really powerful crossbow , and that I 'm certainly looking forward to ; it 'll help make up for the fact that I 've never been able to persuade my father to buy a rifle or a shotgun that I could use sometimes . |
| 28 | I 've never been able to do that . |
| 29 | No , I know , I do n't mean owt , owt wrong but I just ca n't remember these two names , I do n't know why , there 's something I 've never been able to , cos I 've always said to you ai n't I ? |
| 30 | But as I say , I 've never seen anything , and I 've never been able to find anybody who can provide that answer for me . |