Page 107 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

M o d a l v e r b s i n r e p o r t i n g
in
reporting
Modal
verbs
When there is a modal verb in the original statement, suggestion, etc., this sometimes changes
is
a
modal
changes
this
there
sometimes
the
statement,
original
suggestion,
etc.,
verb
in
When
when we report what was said. The changes discussed in Unit 49 are summarised in this table:
when
was
said.
are
summarised
in
we
table:
report
what
this
discussed
in
The
changes
Unit
49

modalmodal verb in originaloriginal modalmodal verb in reportreport
verb
verb
in
in

could, would, should, could, would, should,
could, would, should,
could, would, should,
might, ought to, used to might, ought to, used to
might, ought to, used to
might, ought to, used to

will, can, may would, could, might
would, could, might
will, can, may
will, can, may (existing or future situations and present tense
will, can, may (existing or future situations and present tense
verb in reporting clause)
verb in reporting clause)
will or would, can or could, may or might (existing or future
will or would, can or could, may or might (existing or future
situations and past tense verb in reporting clause)
situations and past tense verb in reporting clause)

shall would, should (offers, suggestions, etc.)
shall
would, should (offers, suggestions, etc.)
mustn't must or had to to

must (= necessary)
must or had
must (= necessary)
must (= conclude)
must (= conclude)
had
had to to
mustn't
mustn't
mustn't

We sometimes use a modal verb in a report when there is no modal verb in the original:
is
the
a
modal
modal
in
original:
no
a
verb
report
We
when
verb
in
use
sometimes
there
• ¢ 'You're not allowed to smoke here.' > She told me that I mustn't smoke there.
-*
not
I
smoke
She
here.'
there.
to
that
allowed
told
me
mustn't
"You're
smoke
might,
ought to, and used to don't change in the report:
should,
The verbs could, would, should, might, ought to, and used to don't change in the report:
The verbs could, would,
-* He
could
said
airport.
he
could
meet
the
us
the
'I
at
meet
you
that
at
9 • ¢ 'I could meet you at the airport.'airport.'— He said that he could meet us at the airport.
—• They said they might drop in if they have time.
• ¢ 'We might drop in if we have time.'time.'— They said they might drop in if they have time.
we
if
have
in
'We
drop
might
usually changes to would,
can to
are
may to
and
if the situation we
could,
might. However,
Will usually changes to would, can to could, and may to might. However, if the situation we are
Will
reporting still exists or is still in the future and the verb in the reporting clause is in a present
reporting still exists or is still in the future and the verb in the reporting clause is in a present
tense, we prefer will, can, and may in the reported clause (see Unit 43). Compare:
tense, we prefer will, can, and may in the reported clause (see Unit 43). Compare:
• ¢ ‘Careful! You'll fall through the —> I warned him he would fall through the ice. andand
'Careful! You'll fall through the ice!'ice!'—
Iwarned
fall
would
through
ice.
him
he
the
—>
• ¢ 'I'll be in Paris at Christmas.'Christmas.'— She tells me she'll be in Paris at Christmas.
tells
She
‘I'll
be
at
at
be
in
Paris
in
Paris
Christmas.
me
she'll
If the situation we are reporting still exists or is still in the future and the verb in the reportingreporting
we
and
in
still
the
exists
verb
is
future
the
in
or
still
the
are
reporting
the
situation
If
may
and
clauseclause is inin a past tense, then we cancan use either would or will, can could, and may oror might
will,
or
is
tense,
can oror
past
a
either
use
might inin
we
would
could,
then
the reportedreported clause:
the
clause:
—• They said the problem can/could be solved.
'The problem can be solved.'
• ¢ 'The problem can be solved.'— They said the problem can/could be solved.
When shall is used in the original to talk about the future, we use would in the report:
the
in
original
about
future,
the
we
would
shall
in
is
used
use
the
report:
talk
When
to
• —> She told me she would call me on Monday.
you
on
I @ « T shallshall (I'll) call you on Monday.'Monday.'— She told me she would call me on Monday.
T
call
(I'll)
offers,
However, when shall is used shall (see requests forfor advice and confirmation, etc. then we can use
used
offers,
However,
etc.
requests
use
confirmation,
advice
then
can
we
shall
and
is
inin
when
WhenWhen 'You must be home by 9 o'clock.' -» FINE conclude that to something Unit 23): have to: or thatthat
also Unit 25C):
25C):
also
but
(see
report,
should in the report, but notnot
Unit
the
shall
should
in
'Where shall I put this box?' -> He asked where he should put the box.
• ¢ 'Where shall I put this box?' ~ He asked where he should put the box.
original
to
use
say that it is
is
in the
necessary to do something,
mustmust
we cancan
usedused
we
in
do
to
that
is
say
is
it
original
something,
usuallyusually
the
necessary
use
had to
must is
less common:
in the report,
althoughalthough
must
less
is
the
report,
in
must oror
to
common:
eithereither
had
must
She said I must / had to be home by 9 o'clock.
• ¢ "You must be home by 9 o'clock.' > She said I must / had to be home by 9 o'clock.
in the
(has)
must is
original to conclude that something
However, when
used
However,
the
original
(has)
or
must
happenedhappened
to
is
used
when
in
something is true, then we
(see also Unit 23):
use must, not had to,
to,
in the reportreport
in
use
had
not
something
we
(see
is
also
true,
the
must,
then
I must be getting old.' -* Neil said he must be getting old.
'I keep forgetting things.
• ¢ '[keep forgetting things. I must be getting old.' > Neil said he must be getting old.
in the original,
is
used
we can
use mustn't in the report but not didn't
If mustn't is used in the original, we can use mustn't in the report but not didn't have to:
If mustn't
—• He warned me that I mustn't tell his brother.
'You mustn't tell my brother.'
• ¢ 'You mustn't tell my brother.’ He warned me that I mustn't tell his brother.
Permission, offers, etc. => IffffEEl
Modals => IH'lilUBH
Modals
etc.
=Permission,
offers,
>
>
JEISSEST3