"I couldn't undertand" vs "I didn't understand"

I have thought about this question, and quite honestly I don't think think there is any appreciable difference between the two.

There might be a very slight difference, as follows:

1. I couldn't understand a word he said. (this might suggest that he spoke unclearly or his words weren't audible)

2. I didn't understand a word he said. (might suggest that you heard wha

I'd agree.

'I couldn't understand...' — used where someone has a strong accent, or mumbles.

'I didn't understand...' — used where the meanings of the words are unintelligible, e.g. in a Human Resources presentation.

But as taiwandave says, you could use either in either situation.

MrP

"can" (or "could") are used in English with no added meaning before verbs of perception, "remember", "understand", and possibly a few others. Many other languages do not use their word for "can" in these contexts unless it literally refers to some ability (as in the last two examples below).

I can see it from here. (more idiomatic)
I see it from here. (also grammatically corre

i understood it , but i have one querry abt could , as i know could use for past , but some time why it is using for present like example ;- in childhood i couldnt speak in english but now i can .
could you plez pass it , could you plez speak loud

This thread is almost 10 years old. It is better to start a new thread in these cases.

Anonymoususing for present like example ;- in childhood i couldnt speak in english but now i can

This is not using 'could' as a present tense.

Anonymouscould you plez pass it , could you plez speak loud

You have several errors.

Hello, could you please helo me with this one?

"I couldn't understand what you meant/mean..."

In which form should i use the second verb if i'm talking about the past?

Anonymousif i'm talking about the past?

Use the past form: meant

CJ

Here in the above, could not can be used when you actually tried to understand but you could not understand his sayings and it could be because of his/her accent or any other reason but it clearly conveying that you tried and was not able to understand an

But in case of using i did not understand , it just conveys that you did not understand him and the reason could be your inability to u

I did not understand a word he said

They are both correct in construction but couldn't emphasises more than just the fact that understanding did not take place, and implies that something prevented understanding, whereas didn't simply states the fact without this associating with any attempt to understand.