Using Modals in Reported Speech

"I can swim," she said.

• She said she could swim
• She said she can swim
• She says she could swim
• She says she can swim
• She told she could swim

Answer explanation

"Can" changes to "could" in reported speech

He said, "I will visit you tomorrow."

• He said he would visit tomorrow
• He said he will visit tomorrow
• He says he would visit
• He says he will visit tomorrow
• He said he will visit

Answer explanation

"Will" changes to "would" in reported speech

"I may go to the party," John said.

• John said he might go to the party
• John said he may go to the party
• John said he can go to the party
• John said he could go
• John says he might go

Answer explanation

"May" changes to "might" in reported speech

She said, "I must finish my homework."

• She said she must finish her homework
• She said she had to finish her homework
• She said she has to finish her homework
• She said she will finish her homework
• She said she could finish it

Answer explanation

"Must" changes to "had to" in reported speech

"You should see a doctor," he told me.

• He told me I should see a doctor
• He told me I should to see a doctor
• He told me I can see a doctor
• He told me I could see a doctor
• He told me I would see a doctor

Answer explanation

"Should" stays the same in reported speech

"They could help us," she said.

• She said they could help us
• She said they can help us
• She said they might help us
• She said they would help us
• She said they will help us

Answer explanation

"Could" remains unchanged in reported speech

She said, "I would like to visit Paris."

• She said she would like to visit Paris
• She said she will like to visit Paris
• She said she likes visiting Paris
• She said she could visit Paris
• She said she may like Paris

Answer explanation

"Would" remains unchanged in reported speech

"Can you help me?" he asked.

• He asked if I can help him
• He asked if I could help him
• He asked if I might help him
• He asked if I may help him
• He asked if I will help him

Answer explanation

"Can" changes to "could" in reported questions

They said, "We will come early."

• They said they would come early
• They said they could come early
• They said they might come early
• They said they should come early
• They said they must come early

Answer explanation

"Will" changes to "would" in reported speech

"I must leave now," he said.

• He said he had to leave then
• He said he must leave now
• He said he could leave now
• He said he should leave then
• He said he would leave then

Answer explanation

"Must" changes to "had to" in reported speech