Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable modal:

I _____ take any photographs because I didn't have a camera with me.

• A. can't
• B. won't
• C. couldn't
• D. mustn't

Answer 1

The correct option is C couldn't

Modal Verbs show us the attitude of the speaker to what is being said or done. The term "modal" means expressing mood and mood is a way to express the attitude of the speaker.

The given sentence is firstly set in past tense and secondly according to the meaning of the sentence it expects a mood of impossibility.

Option C is the correct answer because it expresses impossibility or inability in the past.

Whereas option A expresses inability in present;

option B expresses impossibility in future;

Option D expresses something which is not supposed to happen.