The document discusses certain modal verbs that change form in indirect speech, including can changing to could, may changing to might, must changing to had to, and will changing to would. However, could, might, ought to, should, and would do not change form in indirect speech. Examples are provided to illustrate the changes.

1. Unit 11 Grammar Notes
Section 7 on Page 180

2. Certain modals often
change in indirect speech.
can  could
may  might
must  had to
will  would

3. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
can  could “Sam, can you call
me at 6:00 p.m.?”
Ann asked.

Ann asked Sam if
he could call her
at 6:00 p.m.

4. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
may  might “May I smoke?”
he asked.

He asked if he
might smoke.

5. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
must  had to “You must make up the
test if you were
absent,” the teacher
said.

The teacher said that
we had to make up the
test if we were absent.

6. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
will  would George said, “I will
finish the report by
Friday.”

George said that he
would finish the report
by Friday.

7. However, could, might,
ought to, should, and
would do not change in
indirect speech.

8. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
could  could Kate asked the boss,
“Could I talk to you
for a minute?”

Kate asked the boss
if she could talk to
him for a minute.

9. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
might  might I said “Helen, I might
attend the
conference.”

I told Helen that I
might attend the
conference.

10. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
ought to  ought
to
“You ought to spend
more time on the
homework,” the
teacher told me.

The teacher told me
that I ought to spend
more time on the
homework.

11. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
should  should “Sarah, you should be
more careful,” Dad
said.

Dad told Sarah (that)
she should be more
careful.

12. 7.
Explanation Example(s)
would  would “Would you hold the
door for me?” she
asked.

She asked me if I would
hold the door for her.