Modaux avancés et discours rapporté

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

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

• 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.

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.

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

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.

• “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.