I was chatting with a Japanese friend about something I was planning to say to something and they said:
ほうほう、ということは今まで言えてなかったのね?
Why is imperative form used here?
I understand they are saying, "So that means that until know you hadn't said that".
Would the sentence be different if it was
ほうほう、ということは今まで言わなかったのね?
I asked them but it was difficult for me to understand why.