Reported Speech with Modal Verbs

Reporting speech is all about perspective. When you tell someone what another person said, you are usually looking back from a different point in time. Because the original conversation is in the past, we often shift the verbs one step back. This is known as backshifting. With modals, this backshifting follows a specific logic. Some modals have a natural "past" pair. For example, will has a twin named would. Others, like should or ought to, are already as far back as they can go. They hit a grammar wall and stop there. The trick is knowing which ones shift and which ones stay put. It’s a bit like office gossip; you want to get the facts right, but you also need to adjust the timing so it makes sense to your listener.

1. 1Start with a reporting verb in the past tense, like said, told, or explained.
2. 2Identify the modal verb used in the original direct speech.
3. 3Decide if the modal needs to shift back. Can becomes could. Will becomes would. May becomes might (for possibility) or could (for permission).
4. 4Keep modals like should, ought to, might, could, and would exactly as they are. They do not change.
5. 5Change must to had to if it describes a rule or obligation. Keep it as must if it describes a strong logical guess.
6. 6Keep the main verb after the modal in its base form (the infinitive without to).
7. 7Don't forget to update pronouns like I to he or she and time words like tomorrow to the next day.

Use reported modals when you are summarizing a job interview for a friend. If the recruiter said, "You might hear from us," you would report that they said you might hear from them. It is also essential in professional settings. Imagine you are at a business meeting. A client says, "We can increase the budget next month." You need to report this to your boss by saying, "They said they could increase the budget." You also use this when giving medical advice. If a doctor tells you, "You should rest," you tell your family the doctor said you should rest. It adds a layer of accuracy and authority to your storytelling. It’s the difference between being a vague narrator and a precise communicator.

Do not backshift the modal if the reporting verb is in the present tense. If your friend says, "I can help," and you tell someone immediately, you say, "He says he can help." You also have a choice if the information is still true right now. If a sign says, "You must wear a mask," and you tell someone while standing next to it, saying "It says we must wear a mask" is perfectly fine. Backshifting here is optional. Also, be careful with should. You should never shift should to should have just to make it sound "more past." That actually changes the meaning to a past regret! Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so don't feel bad if it feels a bit crunchy at first.

One of the most frequent stumbles is over-shifting. Learners often think that since they are talking about the past, every single word must change. They try to turn should into shoulded (which isn't a word) or should have. Stick to the rule: if it’s already a "past-form" modal, leave it alone. Another mistake is forgetting that must has two personalities. If it’s a requirement, use had to. If you say, "He said I must go," it sounds a bit old-fashioned or like a logical deduction rather than a command. Also, watch out for may. Many people use might for everything, but if someone gave you permission, could is often the more natural choice in reported speech. It’s like using the wrong fork at a fancy dinner; people will understand you, but it feels slightly out of place.

Compare reported modals with reported statements using regular verbs. With a verb like work, the shift is simple: work becomes worked. But modals don't follow that regular -ed pattern. They are irregular by nature. Also, contrast this with reporting questions. In a question, you might say, "He asked if I could help," which uses the same modal shift but changes the word order. Another important contrast is with conditional sentences. If someone said, "If I had time, I would help," the would stays exactly the same when reported. It’s already in its hypothetical, shifted form. Modals are essentially the "vibe" of the sentence, so you have to preserve that vibe even when you move the timeline.