Question

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option:

I ________ speak English last year but I _______ do it now.

• A. must/can
• B. could/can
• C. might/may
• D. couldn't/can
• E. might/could

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

couldn't/can

The correct answer is Option D.

COULDN'T is the past tense of CAN'T. It expresses inability to do something. In the given sentence the person was unable to speak English the previous year.

Thus COULDN'T is the correct answer.

CAN means being able to do something. It is the present tense of the verb. In the given sentence, the speaker is able to speak English now.

Thus COULDN'T/CAN is the correct answer.

The remaining options are incorrect because:

Option A: MUST expresses compulsion.

Option B: COULD means being able to do something. But the speaker was not able to speak English.

Option C: MIGHT/MAY express possibility.

Option E: MIGHT means possibility. COULD is the past tense, while the sentence is in the present tense.