Rules of Modals
What are Modals?
Modals are helping verbs like can, could, may, might, must, have to, will, would, shall, should.
They show ability, permission, possibility, and obligation.
Direct to Indirect Speech Rules:
Rule 1: Some modals change (when reporting verb is in past)
can → could
may → might
will → would
shall → should/would
must → had to (sometimes)
Example:
Direct: She said, "I can swim."
Indirect: She said that she could swim.
Rule 2: Some modals do NOT change
could, would, should, might, must (in some cases), ought to
Example:
Direct: He said, "I should study."
Indirect: He said that he should study.
Rule 3: “Must” special case
Obligation → had to
Strong advice → stays must
Examples:
She said, "I must finish my work." → She said that she had to finish her work.
He said, "You must respect elders." → He said that we must respect elders.
Rule 4: “Have to / Had to”
have to → had to
What are Modals?
Modals are helping verbs like can, could, may, might, must, have to, will, would, shall, should.
They show ability, permission, possibility, and obligation.
Direct to Indirect Speech Rules:
Rule 1: Some modals change (when reporting verb is in past)
can → could
may → might
will → would
shall → should/would
must → had to (sometimes)
Example:
Direct: She said, "I can swim."
Indirect: She said that she could swim.
Rule 2: Some modals do NOT change
could, would, should, might, must (in some cases), ought to
Example:
Direct: He said, "I should study."
Indirect: He said that he should study.
Rule 3: “Must” special case
Obligation → had to
Strong advice → stays must
Examples:
She said, "I must finish my work." → She said that she had to finish her work.
He said, "You must respect elders." → He said that we must respect elders.
Rule 4: “Have to / Had to”
have to → had to
