"I have not been able to answer your question."

Translation: Non ho potuto rispondere alla tua domanda.

[KenGrave1]

As usual, the hints are rubbish!

[CarolPapal1]

I agree. I am having great difficulty understanding the rules of this language, which seem to be either really complicated or nonexistant. I need to take a class at my local college.

[mrule]

why isn't there an "a" or "da" before "rispondere" here? How can I know whether an infinitive uses "a" or "da" or nothing at all?

[Viaggiatore]

That isn't decided by "rispondere" but by "potere" which precedes it and doesn't require a preposition. Here's a list: http://italian.about.com/od/verbs/a/aa031908a.htm

[Jane643611]

Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

[Keith352848]

"I could not" and "I have not been able to" are two distinctly different things. There is a better translation that this, I'm quite certain.

[Tom419655]

Non ho saputo was accepted for me, 15 June 2020.

[Viaggiatore]

Yes. Rispondere is an intransitive verb. Rispondere a is the most common form. You can also have rispondere di, to be responsible for, rispondere di no, to answer no, or rispondere che, to answer that.

[oktaya]

It's ALWAYS "rispondere A" ?

[antomol]

Non sono stato abile di rispondere alla tua domanda.

[gbushaw]

Why not "Non avevo potuto rispondere alla tua domanda"?

[joedcapo]

That would translate as "I HAD NOT been able...."

[dmr1243]

Your could apply to more than one person, or to one person with the familiar or formal mode.

[MarioHenriq]

"non sono stato abile" is acceptable?

[vronioo]

"Non era capace"?

[ilfalco42]

Perché non: Non sono riuscire a rispondere alla tua domanda.

[Stephan881810]

why is "non potevo ..." not accepted?

[judith645848]

Drop down gave different answers

[PantelisNi4]

Non ho potuto means I couln't, right?

[AnitaVandi2]

"Non sono stato capace a rispondere alla tua domanda" was rejected. What is wrong ?

[ChesyzChesy]

I'm completely sad with italian((. One year of it study and i cannot undersand a lot. Especially with these di, da, del, dal, al, per.... or it ansence. Hungarian or russian is more logic than it(

[AnitaVandi2]

Italian is indeed not the easiest language to learn, but muster up courage and go on exercising !