In this lesson, you will learn about reported speech with modal verbs. Reported speech is used to convey what someone said without quoting their exact words. When modal verbs like can, will, must, may, and others are used in reported speech, they sometimes change to fit the context. This guide will help you understand the rules and transformations of modal verbs in reported speech, with plenty of examples to improve your English communication.
What is Reported Speech with Modal Verbs?
Reported speech is used to tell what someone said without using their exact words. When we use modal verbs (like can, will, must, may, etc.) in reported speech, they sometimes change.
For example:
- Direct speech: She said, “I can swim.”
- Reported speech: She said that she could swim.
Benefits of Learning Reported Speech with Modal Verbs
- Helps you share what others said in a proper way.
- Important for writing news, articles, or stories.
- Used in daily English conversations.
- Helps you understand modal verb changes.
Rules for Changing Modal Verbs in Reported Speech
Some modal verbs change in reported speech, while others remain the same.
Modals That Change:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| can | could |
| will | would |
| shall | should |
| may | might |
| must | had to |
Modals That Stay the Same:
Some modal verbs do not change.
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| could | could |
| would | would |
| should | should |
| might | might |
| ought to | ought to |
Sentence Structures in Reported Speech with Modals
Structure:
- Subject + said/told + (that) + subject + modal verb (changed if necessary) + main verb.
Examples:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| He said, “I will help you.” | He said that he would help me. |
| She said, “You must finish your work.” | She said that I had to finish my work. |
| They said, “We may go to the party.” | They said that they might go to the party. |
| He said, “I can solve this problem.” | He said that he could solve the problem. |
Examples of Reported Speech with Modal Verbs
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
| “I can drive a car,” he said. | He said that he could drive a car. |
| “She will come tomorrow,” he said. | He said that she would come the next day. |
| “You must complete your homework,” the teacher said. | The teacher said that I had to complete my homework. |
| “We may visit Paris next year,” they said. | They said that they might visit Paris next year. |
| “I shall call you later,” she said. | She said that she should call me later. |
| “He might be late,” she said. | She said that he might be late. |
| “They ought to respect their elders,” he said. | He said that they ought to respect their elders. |
| “You should see a doctor,” she told me. | She told me that I should see a doctor. |
| “I could run fast as a child,” he said. | He said that he could run fast as a child. |
| “I must leave now,” she said. | She said that she had to leave then. |
| “We will travel to London next week,” they said. | They said that they would travel to London the following week. |
| “She can solve this puzzle,” he said. | He said that she could solve the puzzle. |
| “You may enter the room,” the guard said. | The guard said that I might enter the room. |
| “I should exercise more,” he said. | He said that he should exercise more. |
| “I will call you in the evening,” she said. | She said that she would call me in the evening. |
| “He must apologize,” she said. | She said that he had to apologize. |
| “They might change their plans,” he said. | He said that they might change their plans. |
| “I can speak three languages,” she said. | She said that she could speak three languages. |
| “We shall go for a walk,” they said. | They said that they should go for a walk. |
| “She could sing beautifully,” he said. | He said that she could sing beautifully. |
| “You must be careful,” she said. | She said that I had to be careful. |
| “He will arrive soon,” they said. | They said that he would arrive soon. |
| “You may borrow my book,” she said. | She said that I might borrow her book. |
| “She should apologize to them,” he said. | He said that she should apologize to them. |
| “I can complete this task alone,” she said. | She said that she could complete the task alone. |
| “We might go shopping later,” they said. | They said that they might go shopping later. |
| “He shall lead the team,” the manager said. | The manager said that he should lead the team. |
| “You must follow the rules,” the teacher said. | The teacher said that I had to follow the rules. |
| “I will bake a cake,” she said. | She said that she would bake a cake. |
| “They ought to finish their work on time,” he said. | He said that they ought to finish their work on time. |
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FAQs about Reported Speech with Modal Verbs
1. What are modal verbs in reported speech?
Modal verbs in reported speech express ability, possibility, necessity, or permission. Examples include “can,” “will,” “may,” and “must.”
2. How does “can” change in reported speech?
In reported speech, “can” usually changes to “could.”
For example:
- Direct: She said, “I can swim.”
- Reported: She said that she could swim.
3. What happens to “will” in reported speech?
In reported speech, “will” usually changes to “would.”
For example:
- Direct: He said, “I will help you.”
- Reported: He said that he would help me.
4. Does “must” change in reported speech?
“Must” usually remains “must” or changes to “had to” in reported speech, depending on the context.
For example:
- Direct: She said, “You must finish the work.”
- Reported: She said that I had to finish the work.
5. How does “may” change in reported speech?
In reported speech, “may” usually changes to “might.”
For example:
- Direct: He said, “I may visit tomorrow.”
- Reported: He said that he might visit the next day.
6. Do modal verbs always change in reported speech?
Not all modal verbs change in reported speech. “Could,” “might,” “should,” and “would” typically stay the same.
For example:
- Direct: He said, “I could go.”
- Reported: He said that he could go.
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