Question

Fill in the blank with an appropriate option:

George couldn't help me. He _________ to ask Kate.

• A. says
• B. said
• C. is saying
• D. has said

Answer 1

The correct option is B said

'Say' means 'to utter something'.

The given sentence is in past tense, as the word 'couldn't' suggests.

('Could' in 'couldn't' is the past form of 'can'.)

Option B: 'Said' is the past form of 'say'. It's a past tense verb that refers to an action that has already happened. Hence it relates to the sentence and option B is correct.

Option A: 'Says' is a simple present tense verb and states an action that is happening at the very moment. But, the action has already happened.

Option C: 'Is saying' is in present continuous tense and states a continuous action happening in the present. It is irrelevant to the past tense sentence here.

Option D: 'Has said' is in present perfect tense and states an action that just happened.

But, the sentence states a past action.

Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.