Question

Fill in the blanks using the given verbs in their correct forms. (You are stating a fact about yourself)

I _________ (play) the piano but I _________ (not/play) it very well.

• A. play; don't play
• B. plays; does not play
• C. was playing; was not playing
• D. have played; have not played

Answer 1

The correct option is A play; don't play

The given sentence states a fact about the speaker 'I'. (general truth)
The simple present tense describes a daily habit, or a general truth. Hence, the given sentence is in simple present tense.
A general truth is in the simple present, because it was and is always going to be true.
Option A: 'Play' and 'don't play' both refer to the simple present. The former is in the affirmative, and the latter in the negative. Hence option A is correct.
Option B: 'Plays' and 'does not play' refer to third person narrative, whereas 'I' is in the first person. (I play, she plays)
Option C: 'Was playing' and 'was not playing' are in the past continuous tense. They describe a continuous action that happened in the past. But, the sentence is stated as a general truth, an action that is true even in the present.
Option D: 'Have played' and 'have not played' refer to the present perfect tense. They describe an action that has been completed in the present. It means that the action has ended; so it does not relate to the given sentence.
Hence options B, C and D are incorrect.