Question

Complete the sentence using suitable modal auxiliary:

A: I .......... speak a little French.
B: Oh really! I thought you said you .......... speak french.

• A. can ; won't
• B. can ; couldn't
• C. could ; couldn't
• D. may ; can't

Answer 1

The correct option is B can ; couldn't

The correct answer is Option B.

CAN expresses ability to do something.

COULDN'T expresses inability.

A says that he is able to speak a little French.

B expresses his astonishment because he thought A had told him that he is not able to speak French.

Thus CAN/COULDN'T is the correct answer.

The remaining answers are incorrect because:

WON'T expresses a lack of desire.

COULD/COULDN'T are in the past tense. The sentence is in the present tense.

MAY/CAN'T - MAY expresses possibility.