I could not... (uncertainty)

[LesFox]

Hi!
There is a little bit similar theme: https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/218983-I-could-not-find-it

The phrase: I could not find my keys.

But I wonder how to express uncertainty? I mean, there was a possibility that I wouldn't find them, but I've found my keys and I'm very glad)

I'm not very good at English yet, and this is my first, really hard-won, message here. :-D Thank you so much for your attention!

 

[Matthew Wai]

'I could not have found my keys.'── a past possibility.

 

[teechar]

Hi!
There is a [STRIKE]little bit[/STRIKE] slightly similar thread to my question: [STRIKE]theme:[/STRIKE] https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/218983-I-could-not-find-it

It's quite different.

[STRIKE]The[/STRIKE] consider the phrase: I could not find my keys.

But I wonder how to express uncertainty. I mean, there was a possibility that I wouldn't find them, but I've found my keys and I'm very glad.

I'm not very good at English yet, and this is my first [STRIKE], really hard-won,[/STRIKE] message here. :-D Thank you so much for your attention!

I thought I might/would not find my keys.

"Would" is stronger than "might."

 

[LesFox]

Thanks for the replies and correcting my mistakes. It's clear now

 

[Roman55]

'I could not have found my keys.'── a past possibility.

No, it isn't.

'I could not have found my keys without your help', would work.

 

[LesFox]

I'm confused now)

No, it isn't.

'I could not have found my keys without your help', would work.

Why can't we say just only "I could not have found my keys"? Is it incorrect?
For example I've lost my keys, and then I've found them without anyone's help. And now I'm relieved and think about what would happen, if I didn't find them

 

[Matthew Wai]

I could not have found my keys if I had not been lucky enough.

 

[teechar]

Why can't we say [STRIKE]just only[/STRIKE] "I could not have found my keys"? Is it incorrect?

It's not incorrect. It just describes an unreal (imaginary) situation in the past.
For instance, I could not have found my keys. I spent hours looking for them in the bedroom, but they were in the kitchen. Silly me!

For example I've lost my keys, and then I've found them without anyone's help. And now I'm relieved and think about what would have happened, if I [STRIKE]didn't find[/STRIKE] hadn't found them

e.g.,
I'm really happy I've found my keys. I can't imagine how worried I would have been if I hadn't found them.
or
I'm so glad I've found my keys. I can't think how anxious I would have been had I not found them.

 

[bhaisahab]

I could not have found my keys if I had not been lucky enough.

That's very unnatural.