Lesson

Modal verbs in reporting

Reporting modals

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Modal verbs in reporting

This lesson explains how modal verbs are used when reporting what someone said or when making deductions about past or present events. We focus on: how modals change in reported speech (backshifting), how to report obligations, permissions and abilities, and how to use modal perfect forms (e.g. must have) for deductions about the past.

  • Change of tense and modal form in reported speech (e.g. will → would, can → could)
  • When to keep the modal and when to change it (meaning matters)
  • Using perfect modal forms (must have, might have, could have) to report judgments about past events

Table

Modal changes and uses in reporting

Modal / Form Use in reporting Example (direct → reported)
can → could Ability / permission in reported speech "I can attend the meeting." → He said he could attend the meeting.
will → would Future in reported speech "I will send the file." → She said she would send the file.
may → might Possibility in reported speech "It may rain." → He said it might rain.
must → had to / must Obligation often backshifts to had to; keep must for general truths or strong present necessity "I must finish this today." → He said he had to finish it that day.
should → should Advice often stays should "You should review the contract." → He said I should review the contract.
modal + have (must have, might have, could have, can't have) Make deductions about the past "He’s not at his desk." → He must have left.
would / used to Reported habitual past or future-in-the-past "I used to travel a lot." → She said she used to travel a lot.

Tip

Key rule: Backshift modals when reporting past statements

When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told, explained), change many modals to their past form. Meaning matters: if the original modal expresses the same time or a universal truth, you may keep it.

  • will → would (future → future-in-the-past)
  • can → could (ability/permission)
  • may → might (possibility)
  • must → had to (obligation) — but keep must for general truths

If the reporting verb is in the present (says), you often keep the original modal: She says she can help.

Example

Examples in context

Direct: "I will review the contract tomorrow," she said. → Reported: She said she would review the contract tomorrow.

Direct: "I can finish the draft by Friday," he said. → Reported: He said he could finish the draft by Friday.

Direct: "You must sign this form," the manager said. → Reported: The manager said I had to sign the form.

Observation: "He is not in the office." → Reported deduction: He must have left early.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when using modals in reporting.

  • Forgetting to backshift a modal after a past reporting verb (e.g. 'said he will' instead of 'said he would')
  • Changing a modal when the original meaning requires it to stay the same (e.g. keeping 'must' when it should be 'had to' for a past obligation)
  • Using modal perfect forms incorrectly for past deductions (e.g. 'must' instead of 'must have' to talk about a past action)
  • Incorrect word order in reported questions and indirect speech with modals

Always check the reporting verb tense and the original meaning before transforming the modal.

Quiz

Choose the correct reported sentence:

Hint: Think about how ability/permission modals change when reporting in the past.

Quiz

Complete: She said she _____ the meeting had already finished.

Hint: Consider a past reporting verb that expresses belief or opinion

Quiz

Choose the best sentence for a past deduction:

Hint: Focus on a modal form that makes a conclusion about a past action.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

could

modal verb CEFR B1 //kʊd//

Past form of can used in reported speech or to indicate past ability; also used for polite requests.

He said he could join the call at 10.

GrammarPoint

would

modal verb CEFR B1 //wʊd//

Past form of will used in reported speech to express future-in-the-past or habitual actions.

She said she would send the invoice on Monday.

GrammarPoint

must have

modal phrase CEFR B2 //mʌst hæv//

Used to express a logical deduction about a past event (strong probability).

The report is missing; he must have left it at home.

GrammarPoint

might have

modal phrase CEFR B2 //maɪt hæv//

Used to suggest a possibility about a past event (weaker than must have).

She might have missed the train due to traffic.

GrammarPoint

backshift

noun CEFR B2 //ˈbækʃɪft//

The grammatical shift of tense or modal when reporting speech (e.g. will → would).

In reported speech, backshift often changes 'may' to 'might'.

Vocabulary

report

verb CEFR B1 //rɪˈpɔːrt//

To tell someone what another person said; to give an account of speech or events.

He reported that the client had agreed to the terms.