Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word
I _____ play chess ____ I was five.
a) can/when
b) could/when
c) could/what
d) can/where

Answer 1

Hint: As can be understood from the given sentence, it is in the past tense, thus the correct answer shall be in the past tense. All sentences have consistent tenses in one line which is why if the later tense (was) is in the past tense, the first verb shall also be in the past tense.

Complete answer:
The correct answer is option b because it has the modal verb “could”. It is in the past tense. The correct sentence, therefore, reads as: I could play chess when I was five. There is consistency in the tenses used: could and was. Both are in the past tense.
Option a is wrong because “can” is in the present tense. Though “when” is correct, we have to make sure both the options in one option is correct for the answer to be correct.
Option c is wrong because the usage of “what” does not make sense. “When” denotes time- the author is talking about the time he was five years old. “What” denotes a reason.
Option d is wrong because of the use of “can”. Also, “where” implies a place or location. Being 5 years old is not a place or location. It implies a time period, that is, the author’s childhood. Thus, “where” is wrong.

Note:
 Many students make the common mistake of choosing an option where only one of the choices is correct. Always choose an answer where both the parts of the answer are correct. Also, always focus on the tense used in the question given because that is your biggest clue, and choose the answer accordingly.