English grammar
Could / couldn't and put
Say what you couldn't do and where you put things, in the past.
From the scene I couldn't print it
In short
Could is the past of can: I couldn't print, never didn't could. Put stays put in the past.
Your turn
Which one goes with question?
Options: could she print? · I couldn't print (not "I didn't could") · she couldn't either
Show answer
question → could she print?
How it works
Could is the past of can: I couldn't print, could she print?
Good to know
It is never "didn't could", and it never takes to: I couldn't print (not "I couldn't to print").
Good to know
Put doesn't change at all in the past: I put, she put — never "putted".
couldn't I couldn't print (not "I didn't could")
Nuria
Again! I couldn't print the report.
¡Otra vez! No pude imprimir el informe.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Again! (blank) the report.
Options: I couldn't print · Could she print · She couldn't either
Show answer
Nuria
Again! I couldn't print the report.
¡Otra vez! No pude imprimir el informe.
question could she print?
Your turn
What goes with could she print??
Options: question · couldn't · also not
Show answer
could she print? → question
also not she couldn't either
Nuria
No, she couldn't either. She put the paper in three times.
No, tampoco pudo. Puso el papel tres veces.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No, (blank). She put the paper in three times.
Options: she couldn't either · I couldn't print · could she print
Show answer
Nuria
No, she couldn't either. She put the paper in three times.
No, tampoco pudo. Puso el papel tres veces.
put (I) I put the paper in (not "putted")
Nuria
I put the paper in, but it didn't work.
Puse el papel, pero no funcionó.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), but it didn't work.
Options: I couldn't print · Could she print · I put the paper in
Show answer
Nuria
I put the paper in, but it didn't work.
Puse el papel, pero no funcionó.
put (someone) someone put
Javi
Let me see... Here it is! Someone put a biscuit inside.
A ver... ¡Aquí está! Alguien puso una galleta dentro.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Let me see... Here it is! (blank) a biscuit inside.
Options: Could she print · Someone put · I couldn't print
Show answer
Javi
Let me see... Here it is! Someone put a biscuit inside.
A ver... ¡Aquí está! Alguien puso una galleta dentro.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| couldn't | I couldn't print (not "I didn't could") |
|---|---|
| question | could she print? |
| also not | she couldn't either |
| put (I) | I put the paper in (not "putted") |
| put (someone) | someone put |
More lines from the story
- NuriaA biscuit? Who put a biscuit in the printer?¿Una galleta? ¿Quién puso una galleta en la impresora?
- NuriaJavi! You're the problem!¡Javi! ¡El problema eres tú!