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.