[Grammar] I couldn't find

[Anil Giria]

I couldn't find my books.
Could you play the guitar before taking lessons.

I understand these sentences are correct.We are talking about the past activities then why are we using base form of Verb and not the past participle?

 

[teechar]

You always use the base form of the verb after the modal auxiliary "could."

 

[Tarheel]

More natural, I think, is:

Could you play the guitar before you took lessons?
- --- -------------------

In any case, that second sentence is a question and needs a question mark.

 

[Barb_D]

I can't find my books now.
I couldn't find my books then.

I can't read without reading glasses now.
I could read without reading glasses a recently as three years ago.

"Could" is the past of "can."

(It can also be a conditional, but that's not the form in your sentences.)

 

[Odessa Dawn]

I can't read without reading glasses now.
I could read without reading glasses a recently as three years ago.

Is the word 'reading' optional, Barb?



(A Happy New Year 2016!)

 

[Barb_D]

Happy new year to you too.

"Reading glasses" are used for close-up. It's a specific sign that I'm getting old. :-D

 

[Tarheel]

Is the word 'reading' optional, Barb?



(A Happy New Year 2016!)

People often say "glasses". For example: "I was looking for my glasses, then I realized I was wearing them."
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"When you get old you need glasses in order to read,
Then you forget them, and where are the glasses you need?"