Modal verb "could" in reported speech
Hello everyone!
I know that some modal verbs such as could would might should dont change when a direct speech with these modal verbs is reported.
Let's just imagine that some guy named Sam says something like this "John could come here today" implying that it's possible that John will come here today. So if we report some other day what Sam said it will be the sentence like this "Sam said that John could come here that day".
Do I understand it right that if we don't give any additional information/context then the sentence "Sam said that John could come here that day" can have these meanings? :
1. John was allowed to come here that day.
2. There was a chance/possibility that John would come here that day.
So will it be correct to report direct speech "John could come here today" like this "Sam said that John might come here that day" providing that the second sentence is about possibility that John would come? I just think it's safer to use might in this case.
Top answer
John could come here today. e. its meaning is relative to the time of the original utterance.
- John could come here today.
- e.
- its meaning is relative to the time of the original utterance.
- In reported speech, a non-deictic temporal expression is needed, for example Sam said that John could come here on Tuesday 18th.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
John could come here today.
A point about the temporal aspect:
"Today" is deictic, i.e. its meaning is relative to the time of the original utterance.
In reported speech, a non-deictic temporal expression is needed, for example Sam said that John could come here on Tuesday 18th.
0DVBCSowill(would) it be correct to report direct speech "John could come here today"like thisas "Sam said that John might come here that day" providing that the second sentence is about possibility that John would come?
Yes, or possibly 'go there
0
Related Questions