Can you please explain the answer for the sentences below:

Sally_______(could/couldn't)play the flute, however. She always makes lovely music with it.

Cathy_______(could/couldn't)swim though.She is a member of the swimming team.

What do however and though mean?

Thanks

Can you please explain the answer for the sentences below:

Sally_______(could/couldn't)play the flute, however. She always makes lovely music with it.

Cathy_______(could/couldn't)swim though.She is a member of the swimming team.

What do however and though mean?

Thanks[/quote]

Sally couldn't play sport because her legs are paralysed. Sally could play the flute, however. She always makes lovely music with it.

The second sentence can be written two ways:
Sally could play the flute, however.
and
However, Sally could play the flute.

however: it is an adverb and used in a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously: her ability to play the flute contrasts with her inability to play sport.

Cathy couldn't play any musical instrument and wasn't very good academically. Cathy could swim though. She is a member of the swimming team.

though: an adverb. Can you see how the first sentence makes it seem as if poor Cathy wasn't any good at anything.
Then we find out that she IS good at something - swimming. So you see, it is very much the same as 'however'.

So - I could write that sentence two ways:
Cathy couldn't play any musical instrument and wasn't very good academically. Cathy could swim though. She is a member of the swimming team.

and

Cathy couldn't play any musical instrument and wasn't very good academically. However, Cathy could swim. She is a member of the swimming team.