Reported Speech Modal Verbs Exercises

Modal verbs follow specific backshift rules in reported speech. Can becomes could, may becomes might, will becomes would, and must (obligation) becomes had to. "I can swim" becomes "He said he could swim." "You must leave" becomes "She said I had to leave." These changes apply consistently whenever the reporting verb is in the past tense.

However, some modals do not change because they already represent past or conditional forms: could, would, should, might, and ought to remain the same. "I could help" stays as "He said he could help." "You should rest" stays as "She said I should rest." The modal must deserves special attention: when it expresses logical deduction rather than obligation, it can stay unchanged — "He must be tired" can become "She said he must be tired." Learning which modals change and which remain the same is one of the trickiest aspects of reported speech for English learners.