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

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• can → could
  1. “I can swim.” → She said she could swim.
• may → might
  1. “You may enter.” → He said I might enter.
• shall → should / would
  1. “I shall return.” → He said he would return.
• will → would
  1. “I will help you.” → She said she would help me.
• must → had to (obligation)
  1. “I must leave.” → He said he had to leave.

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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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Must

• Obligation → must → had to

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

• Déduction → must reste must

1. “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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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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• “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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