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Indirect Speech for Modals

   Indirect Speech for Modals, e.g. CAN, MUST, MAY.

For converting direct speech into indirect speech, the present modals (e.g., Can, May, Must) are changed into past modals (e.g., Could, Might, Had to). See the following examples.

Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
CAN changes into COULD
She said, “I can sing a song”.
She said that she could sing a song.
He said, “I can drive a car”.
He said that he could drive a car.
David said, “I can make a table”.
David said that he could make a table.
She said, “I can speak five different languages.
She said that she could speak five different languages.
He said, “I cannot play a guitar”.
He said that he could not play a guitar.
MAY changes into MIGHT
He said, “I may go to London”.
He said that he might go to London.
She said, “I may wash my shirt”.
She said that she might wash her shirt.
He said, “I may buy a new camera”.
He said that he might buy a new camera.
They said, “We may call the police”.
They said that they might call the police.
He said, “I may not attend the meeting”.
He said that he might not attend the meeting.
MUST changes into HAD TO
He said, “I must study for the exam”.
He said that he had to study the exam.
She said, “I must finish the work in time”.
She said that she had to finish the work in time.
He said, “I must eat a healthy diet”.
He said that he had to eat a healthy diet”.
They said, “We must help the kid".
They said that they had to help the kid.
They said, “I must not drive carelessly”.
He said that he had not to drive carelessly.

   Indirect Speech for Modals, e.g. SHOULD, MIGHT, COULD, WOULD, OUGHT TO

These modals are not changed and remain the same in indirect speech. See the following examples.

Direct Speech
Indirect Speech
SHOULD
He said, I should make a good decision.
He said that he should make a good decision.
The patient said, “I should take my medicine”.
The patient said he should take his medicine.
They said, “We should speak the truth”.
They said that they should speak the truth.
He said, “I should apologize to David for my mistake.
He said that he should apologize to David for his mistake.
He said, I should not waste my time.
He said that he should not waste his time.
MIGHT
He said, I might change my decision.
He said that he might change his decision.
She said, I might eat something.
She said that she might eat something.
They said, “We might go to a cinema”.
They said they might go to a cinema.
He said, “I might not buy a new shirt”.
He said that he might not buy a new shirt.
COULD
He said, “I could pass the exam”.
He said that he could pass the exam.
They said, “We could win a prize”.
They said that they could win a prize.
She said to me, “I could bring some food for you”.
She said to me that she could bring some food for me.
WOULD
He said, “I would wait for you”.
He said that he would wait for me.
She said, “I would decorate my house”.
She said that she would decorate her house.
They said, “We would start a business”.
They said that they would start a business.
OUGHT TO
He said, “I ought to attend the lectures daily”.
He said that he ought to attend the lectures daily.
They said, “We ought not to tell a lie”.
They said that they ought not to tell a lie.



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