Question

Fill in the blanks with suitable verb forms:
A: I _________ play the guitar.
B: But yesterday you said you _________ play it.

• A. Can't / could
• B. Can / could
• C. Couldn't / can
• D. Could / could

Answer 1

The correct option is A Can't / could

The correct answer is Option A.

CAN'T expresses the inability to do something. In the first sentence, the speaker is saying that is unable to play the guitar.

COULD is the past tense of CAN. In the second sentence, there is a reference to the past tense. 'A' had said that he was able to play the guitar.

Thus CAN'T/COULD is the correct answer.

The remaining answers are incorrect because:

Option B: CAN expresses ability, not inability.

Option C: COULDN'T is the past tense, but the sentence is in the present tense. CAN is the the present tense, while the sentence is in the past tense.

Option D: COULD is the past tense of CAN.