Grammar: 🚀 Advanced Grammar: 💬➡️🗣️ Reported Speech (B2) - Lesson 5: Reporting with Modals

ESL ADVANCED 🚀

Grammar B2

Reporting Modals

The "Time Shift" Rules

🔄 Group A: The Shifters

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
will Future	would He said he would go.
can Ability	could He said he could swim.
may Possibility	might He said he might be late.
must Obligation	had to He said he had to work.

"I must finish this report."

He said he had to finish that report.

គាត់បាននិយាយថា គាត់ត្រូវតែបញ្ចប់របាយការណ៍នោះ

🛑 Group B: No Change

These modals stay the same in the past.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
should	should
might	might
could	could
ought to	ought to

"You should see a doctor."

She said I should see a doctor.

នាងបាននិយាយថា ខ្ញុំគួរតែទៅជួបគ្រូពេទ្យ

The Rumour 🤫

Reporting what was said.

Yesterday, Sok said:
1. "I can fix the computer."
2. "I might be late."

Vibol 🧑

Did you talk to Sok? What did he say?

Sophea 👩

Well, he said he could fix the computer.

Vibol 🧑

Is he coming to the meeting?

Sophea 👩

He wasn't sure. He said he might be late.

Shift or No Shift? 🧠

Select the correct reported form.

Direct: "I will call you."

She said she ___ call me.

Direct: "You should relax."

He said I ___ relax.

Direct: "I must go home." (Obligation)

She said she ___ go home.

Mission 📝

Be the Reporter!

Report these sentences:

Change the modal verbs.

• 1. "I can help you."
  ➔ He said he could help me.
• 2. "It may rain."
  ➔ She said it ________ rain.
• 3. "You must study."
  ➔ He said I ________ study.

(Answers: might, had to)