Якщо вступне дієслово стоїть в минулому часі, модальні дієслова в непрямій мові змінюються наступним чином:
can — could.
Приклад:
She said, ‘I can speak four languages.’ — She said (that) she could speak four languages;
Приклад:
‘I may call you,’ Sue said. — Sue said that she might call us;
Приклад:
She said, ‘When shall I call you?’ — She asked when she should call us;
Приклад:
The teacher said, ‘You must write the report on Friday.’ — The teacher said that I had to / must write the report on Friday;
Приклад:
‘You needn’t go right now,’ Dad said. — Dad said that I needn’t / didn’t need to / didn’t have to go at once.
Дієслова would, could, might, should, mustn’t у непрямій мові не змінюються.