I honestly couldn't follow a word you were saying

[deleted]

Test No. incompl/inter-91 "Tenses (2)", question 2

I honestly couldn't follow a word you ..........

(a) are saying
(b) will say
(c) were saying
(d) did say

Test No. incompl/inter-91 "Tenses (2)", answer 2

I honestly couldn't follow a word you were saying.

Correct answer: (c) were saying

Your answer was: incorrect
I honestly couldn't follow a word you did say.
_________________________

why not did say can be used

[Torsten]

Well, if you want to use the simple past instead of the past continuous the correct verb form would be said instead of did say because we use the auxiliary verb did only in questions.

TOEIC listening, photographs: An airplane

[Christina328]

[Andrew]

Since at the time when you made your statement, it is unlikely that the other party was still taking, and so the event of talking would be something that happened in the past.

[Kati Svaby]

Here isn't present in the past???" Honestly I can' follow a word what you are saying." Indirect speech: "I couldn't. Follow a word what you were saying." When the sentence is introduced by a verb in past tense the verb of the clause has to chage in corresponding tense.Here: in past contnuous tense.

[Saneta]

can't we use here: 'did say' to emphasise the action?
and for the second we don't have to change Past Simple in direct speech to Past Perfect in the indirect speech, but we can leave it as Simple pas.

many thanks