REPORTED SPEECH TENSE SHIFTS / TENSE CHANGES : MODALS / MODAL VERBS

REPORTED SPEECH TENSE SHIFTS / TENSE CHANGES

PART III

B/ MODALS / MODAL VERBS

Reported speech in general involves a backward shift into the past.
The same rule applies to modals.

Can…….….….could

He said, “I can swim.”

He said (that) he could swim

May….…….…might

He said, “I may go out for a walk.”


He said (that) he might go out for a walk.

Must………......had to / would have to

He said, “You must rest in bed.

He said (that) he had to rest in bed.

He said, “I must take the plane tomorrow.

He said (that) he would have to take the plane the following day.

Needn’t……….didn’t have to / didn’t need to

He said, “The children needn’t wake up early.”

He said (that) the children didn’t need to / didn’t have to wake up early.

Shall………….should

He said, “I shall be released soon.

He said (that) he should be released soon.

The following modals do not change:

Should………...should

She said, “You should be polite to her.”

She said (that) he should be polite to her.

Could…………could

She said, “I could come to the party.”

She said (that) she could come to the party.


Might…………might

He said, “It might rain in the evening.

He said (that) it might rain in the evening.

Ought to……...ought to

She said, “You ought to remain calm.

She said (that) he ought to remain calm.

Had better……had better

He said, “You had better cut down on black coffee.”

He said (that) he had better cut down on black coffee.

Used to………used to

She said, “I used to love him.”

She said (that) she used to love him.