“I could’t understand a word she said”
“I didn’t manage to understand a word she said”
“I couldn’t make out a word she said”

Do this 3 sentences have the same meaning?
Which is the most common?

Question

“I could’t understand a word she said”
“I didn’t manage to understand a word she said”
“I couldn’t make out a word she said”

Do this 3 sentences have the same meaning?
Which is the most common?

Answer

‘Making out a word she said’ implies that you would have been able to understand it if the sound quality had been higher.

‘Couldn’t understand’ is talking about the result, and could have other causes - for example, you don’t know the language/vocabulary.

‘Didn’t manage to understand’ adds the idea that you were trying to understand but failed.

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