Reported Speech

Lesson 7: Reported Speech with Modal Verbs

Lesson: 7 of 8 | Level: 🟠 Intermediate — 🟣 Upper-Intermediate

1. Lesson Overview

Modal verbs in direct speech undergo their own systematic set of changes when reported — changes that mirror the general principle of tense backshift but that follow the specific forms and constraints of the modal system examined in Module 5. Some modal verbs have clear backshifted equivalents; others are invariable — they look the same in both direct and reported speech; and others change in ways that reflect not just temporal shift but also a change in meaning or degree of certainty.

Understanding exactly how each modal verb behaves in reported speech — which forms change, which stay the same, and how the meaning shifts — is one of the most important and most nuanced aspects of the reported speech system. This lesson examines every major modal verb in reported speech, presents the full set of rules, and identifies the many cases where learners make errors by applying the wrong backshift or by failing to recognise when no change is needed.

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Apply the correct backshift transformation to every major modal verb in reported speech
• Identify which modal verbs do not change in reported speech
• Understand the meaning shifts that accompany modal changes in reported speech
• Recognise and correct common errors in reporting speech with modal verbs

2. Core Content

A. The General Principle — Modal Backshift

When direct speech containing a modal verb is reported with a past reporting verb, the modal verb typically shifts to its past or more tentative equivalent — just as main verb tenses shift back one step. The following table presents the complete system of modal changes.

B. Will → Would

Will in direct speech backshifts to would in reported speech. This is the most common and most important modal backshift — it applies to all the uses of will examined in Module 5, including future prediction, spontaneous decisions, offers, promises, and willingness.

For example:

Direct: ‘We will publish the findings next month.’ Reported: The team announced that they would publish the findings the following month.

Direct: ‘The glacier will continue to retreat unless action is taken.’ Reported: The scientist warned that the glacier would continue to retreat unless action was taken.

Direct: ‘I will help you with the analysis.’ Reported: The researcher offered that she would help with the analysis.

Direct: ‘We will not proceed without an environmental impact assessment.’ Reported: The team stated that they would not proceed without an environmental impact assessment.

Will have → Would have

Will have + past participle (future perfect) backshifts to would have + past participle.

For example:

Direct: ‘By 2050, sea levels will have risen by at least thirty centimetres.’ Reported: The scientist predicted that by 2050, sea levels would have risen by at least thirty centimetres.

Will be + -ing → Would be + -ing

Will be + -ing (future continuous) backshifts to would be + -ing.

For example:

Direct: ‘This time next year, we will be conducting the follow-up survey.’ Reported: The team leader said that this time the following year, they would be conducting the follow-up survey.

C. Can → Could

Can in direct speech backshifts to could in reported speech. This applies to all uses of can — ability, possibility, permission, and requests.

For example:

Direct: ‘The submersible can operate at depths of more than 6,000 metres.’ Reported: The engineer stated that the submersible could operate at depths of more than 6,000 metres.

Direct: ‘Scientists can now detect methane concentrations at the parts-per-billion level.’ Reported: The researcher explained that scientists could now detect methane concentrations at the parts-per-billion level.

Direct: ‘You can access the data once you have received authorisation.’ Reported: The administrator said that they could access the data once they had received authorisation.

Direct: ‘Can you check the calibration before the dive?’ Reported: The team leader asked whether the technician could check the calibration before the dive.

D. May → Might

May in direct speech backshifts to might in reported speech. This applies to may expressing possibility — and it shifts the possibility to a slightly lower degree of certainty, as might is inherently more tentative than may.

For example:

Direct: ‘The species may be classified as critically endangered.’ Reported: The conservationist said that the species might be classified as critically endangered.

Direct: ‘The findings may be published before the conference.’ Reported: The editor suggested that the findings might be published before the conference.

Direct: ‘There may be an active vent in this sector.’ Reported: The researcher indicated that there might be an active vent in that sector.

May expressing permission

When may expresses permission in direct speech, it also backshifts to might — though could or was allowed to is sometimes used instead for clarity.

For example:

Direct: ‘You may access the restricted data once you have clearance.’ Reported: The administrator said that they might access the restricted data once they had clearance. Reported: The administrator said that they could access the restricted data once they had clearance. (clearer — could for permission) Reported: The administrator said that they were allowed to access the restricted data once they had clearance. (clearest — avoids modal ambiguity)

E. Shall → Should

Shall in direct speech backshifts to should in reported speech.

Shall for future — first person

When shall is used in formal British English for first person future, it backshifts to should — though in practice this is rare since shall for future is itself uncommon in modern English.

For example:

Direct: ‘We shall present the findings at the conference in September.’ Reported: The team announced that they should present the findings at the conference in September.

Note that this should can be ambiguous — it may sound like advice rather than a future statement. In practice, would is often preferred as the reported form of shall for future meaning, since it is less ambiguous.

Reported: The team announced that they would present the findings at the conference in September. (clearer — would preferred)

Shall for offers and suggestions — Shall I/we

When shall is used for offers and suggestions in direct speech, it is typically reported using offered to, suggested, or asked whether they should.

For example:

Direct: ‘Shall I check the instruments before the dive?’ Reported: The technician offered to check the instruments before the dive. Reported: The technician asked whether he should check the instruments before the dive.

F. Must — A Critical Distinction

Must behaves differently in reported speech depending on whether it is expressing obligation or logical deduction — and this distinction is critically important.

Must for obligation → Had to

When must expresses obligation or necessity in direct speech, it backshifts to had to in reported speech.

For example:

Direct: ‘All researchers must submit their data within thirty days.’ Reported: The funding body stated that all researchers had to submit their data within thirty days.

Direct: ‘We must recalibrate the instruments before the dive.’ Reported: The team leader said that they had to recalibrate the instruments before the dive.

Direct: ‘You must not remove the samples without authorisation.’ Reported: The principal investigator told the team that they must not remove the samples without authorisation. (prohibition — see below)

Must for prohibition → Must not (no change)

When must not expresses prohibition — a strong prohibition — it typically does not change in reported speech. Must not is retained because the prohibition is a standing rule that is still in force, not a past instruction that has been superseded.

For example:

Direct: ‘Researchers must not remove samples without prior authorisation.’ Reported: The protocol stated that researchers must not remove samples without prior authorisation.

Direct: ‘You must not proceed beyond the designated safety boundary.’ Reported: The safety officer stated that personnel must not proceed beyond the designated safety boundary.

Must for logical deduction → Must (no change)

When must expresses logical deduction — epistemic must — it does not backshift in reported speech. The deduction is a present inference and is not subject to the same temporal shift as a statement of fact.

For example:

Direct: ‘The readings must be wrong — the instrument has not been calibrated.’ Reported: The technician said that the readings must be wrong since the instrument had not been calibrated.

Direct: ‘There must be an active vent nearby — the temperature is extraordinary.’ Reported: The researcher said that there must be an active vent nearby because the temperature was extraordinary.

G. Should — No Change

Should does not change in reported speech — it remains should regardless of the tense of the reporting verb. This is because should is already a past/tenative form and has no further backshifted equivalent in standard English.

For example:

Direct: ‘Scientists should establish baseline measurements before mining begins.’ Reported: The expert said that scientists should establish baseline measurements before mining began.

Direct: ‘The team should recalibrate before the dive.’ Reported: The team leader said that the team should recalibrate before the dive.

Direct: ‘You should consider the implications of the findings more carefully.’ Reported: The reviewer said that the authors should consider the implications of the findings more carefully.

H. Could — No Change

Could in direct speech does not change in reported speech — it remains could. Like should, it is already a past/tentative form.

For example:

Direct: ‘The anomaly could be caused by instrument drift.’ Reported: The researcher said that the anomaly could be caused by instrument drift.

Direct: ‘If additional funding were secured, the survey could be extended.’ Reported: The team leader said that if additional funding were secured, the survey could be extended.

I. Would — No Change

Would in direct speech does not change in reported speech — it remains would.

For example:

Direct: ‘If the team had more resources, it would produce better results.’ Reported: The supervisor said that if the team had more resources, it would produce better results.

Direct: ‘I would like to present the findings at the next conference.’ Reported: The researcher said that she would like to present the findings at the next conference.

J. Might — No Change

Might in direct speech does not change in reported speech — it remains might.

For example:

Direct: ‘The species might have evolved in isolation over millions of years.’ Reported: The biologist suggested that the species might have evolved in isolation over millions of years.

Direct: ‘There might be a second vent field further to the south.’ Reported: The researcher speculated that there might be a second vent field further to the south.

K. Ought To — No Change

Ought to in direct speech does not change in reported speech — it remains ought to.

For example:

Direct: ‘Scientists ought to establish baseline measurements before any extraction begins.’ Reported: The expert said that scientists ought to establish baseline measurements before any extraction began.

L. Need To → Needed To

Need to (main verb form) backshifts to needed to in reported speech — following the standard pattern for main verbs.

For example:

Direct: ‘The team needs to recalibrate the instruments before the dive.’ Reported: The team leader said that the team needed to recalibrate the instruments before the dive.

Direct: ‘We need to collect more samples from the southern sector.’ Reported: The researcher said that they needed to collect more samples from the southern sector.

Needn’t (modal form) does not change in the same way — it is retained as needn’t or replaced by didn’t need to depending on context.

M. Have To → Had To

Have to (external obligation) backshifts to had to in reported speech — following the standard past tense pattern.

For example:

Direct: ‘The team has to follow the Antarctic Treaty regulations at all times.’ Reported: The supervisor said that the team had to follow the Antarctic Treaty regulations at all times.

Direct: ‘Researchers have to submit data within thirty days.’ Reported: The protocol stated that researchers had to submit data within thirty days.

N. Used To — No Change

Used to in direct speech does not change in reported speech — it remains used to.

For example:

Direct: ‘Scientists used to believe that the deep ocean was essentially lifeless.’ Reported: The researcher said that scientists used to believe that the deep ocean was essentially lifeless.

O. Modal Perfects in Reported Speech

Modal perfects — must have, could have, should have, would have, might have, may have — generally do not change in reported speech because they are already expressing a past perspective within the modal system. No further backshift is possible.

For example:

Direct: ‘The equipment must have been damaged during the storm.’ Reported: The technician said that the equipment must have been damaged during the storm.

Direct: ‘The team should have established baseline measurements earlier.’ Reported: The expert said that the team should have established baseline measurements earlier.

Direct: ‘The anomaly could have been caused by instrument drift.’ Reported: The researcher suggested that the anomaly could have been caused by instrument drift.

Direct: ‘The species might have colonised the vent field relatively recently.’ Reported: The biologist proposed that the species might have colonised the vent field relatively recently.

3. Usage in Context

• Will backshifts to would in reported speech — the most common and most important modal transformation.

Direct: ‘Global temperatures will continue to rise without urgent action.’ Reported: The climate scientist warned that global temperatures would continue to rise without urgent action.

• Will have + past participle backshifts to would have + past participle.

Direct: ‘By 2050, sea levels will have risen by at least thirty centimetres.’ Reported: The scientist predicted that by 2050, sea levels would have risen by at least thirty centimetres.

• Can backshifts to could in reported speech — for ability, possibility, and permission.

Direct: ‘The latest sensors can detect concentrations at the parts-per-billion level.’ Reported: The researcher stated that the latest sensors could detect concentrations at the parts-per-billion level.

• May backshifts to might in reported speech — the possibility shifts to a slightly lower degree of certainty.

Direct: ‘The findings may be published before the end of the year.’ Reported: The editor said that the findings might be published before the end of the year.

• Must for obligation backshifts to had to — but must for logical deduction and must not for prohibition do not change.

Direct: ‘All researchers must submit their data within thirty days.’ (obligation) Reported: The protocol stated that all researchers had to submit their data within thirty days.

Direct: ‘The readings must be wrong — the sensor hasn’t been calibrated.’ (deduction) Reported: The technician said that the readings must be wrong since the sensor hadn’t been calibrated.

Direct: ‘Researchers must not remove samples without authorisation.’ (prohibition) Reported: The protocol stated that researchers must not remove samples without authorisation.

• Shall for future backshifts to should — but would is often used instead for clarity.

Direct: ‘We shall present the findings at the September conference.’ Reported: The team announced that they would present the findings at the September conference.

• Shall I/we for offers and suggestions is reported using offered to or asked whether should.

Direct: ‘Shall I recalibrate the instruments before the dive?’ Reported: The technician offered to recalibrate the instruments before the dive.

• Should, could, would, might, ought to, and used to do not change in reported speech.

Direct: ‘Scientists should establish baseline measurements before mining begins.’ Reported: The expert said that scientists should establish baseline measurements before mining began.

Direct: ‘The anomaly could be explained by instrument drift.’ Reported: The researcher suggested that the anomaly could be explained by instrument drift.

• Need to backshifts to needed to — following the standard main verb pattern.

Direct: ‘The team needs to recalibrate before the dive.’ Reported: The team leader said that the team needed to recalibrate before the dive.

• Have to backshifts to had to.

Direct: ‘All members have to complete the safety briefing before departure.’ Reported: The officer said that all members had to complete the safety briefing before departure.

• Modal perfects — must have, could have, should have, would have, might have — do not change in reported speech.

Direct: ‘The equipment must have been damaged during the seismic event.’ Reported: The technician said that the equipment must have been damaged during the seismic event.

Direct: ‘The team should have established baseline data earlier.’ Reported: The reviewer noted that the team should have established baseline data earlier.

• When the reporting verb is in the present tense, no modal backshift applies.

The paper argues that carbon emissions will continue to rise without structural economic change. The report warns that sea levels may rise by more than a metre by the end of the century.

• When reporting speech about a situation that is still current, the original modal may be retained.

Direct: ‘The species can survive at depths of more than 4,000 metres.’ Reported (situation unchanged): The researcher said that the species can survive at depths of more than 4,000 metres. ✅ (no backshift — still true) Reported (standard backshift): The researcher said that the species could survive at depths of more than 4,000 metres. ✅ (also correct)

• In formal academic writing, modal verbs in reported content follow the academic present convention — no backshift applies.

Darwin (1859) argues that species will adapt over generations through natural selection. The study suggests that rising temperatures may accelerate the decline of coral reef systems.

4. Common Errors and Corrections

5. Lesson Mastery

After completing this lesson, you should now be able to:

    ✅ Apply the correct backshift transformation to every major modal verb in reported speech

    ✅ Identify which modal verbs do not change in reported speech

    ✅ Understand the meaning shifts that accompany modal changes in reported speech

    ✅ Recognise and correct common errors in reporting speech with modal verbs