Modaux avancés et discours rapporté

Le discours rapporté (*reported speech*) fait reculer les temps verbaux. Cela s’applique aussi aux verbes modaux.

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1. Rappel

- Direct : He said: “I can help you.” - Reported : He said (that) he could help me.

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2. Modaux qui changent

can → could

“I can swim.” → She said she could swim.

may → might

“You may enter.” → He said I might enter.

shall → should / would

“I shall return.” → He said he would return.

will → would

“I will help you.” → She said she would help me.

must → had to (obligation)

“I must leave.” → He said he had to leave.

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3. Modaux qui ne changent pas

Certains modaux restent identiques :

could, might, should, would, ought to, had better

Exemple : - “I could finish it tomorrow.” → She said she could finish it the next day.

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4. Cas particuliers

Must

Obligation → must → had to

“I must go now.” → He said he had to go then.

Déduction → must reste must

“She must be tired.” → He said she must be tired.

May

Possibilité → may → might

Permission → may → could / was allowed to

Shall

Intention → shall → would

Obligation formelle → shall → should

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5. Expressions temporelles

Les marqueurs de temps changent aussi :

now → then

today → that day

tomorrow → the next day

yesterday → the previous day

Exemple : - “I will see you tomorrow.” → She said she would see me the next day.

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6. Exemples récapitulatifs

“I can drive you home.” → He said he could drive me home.

“I may join you.” → She said she might join us.

“I must study tonight.” → He said he had to study that night.

“He must be tired.” → She said he must be tired.

“I will call you.” → He said he would call me.

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