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modal verbs

Reported speech: indirect speech

Reported speech: indirect speech Indirect speech focuses more on the content of what someone said rather than their exact words. In indirect speech, the structure of the reported clause depends on whether the speaker is reporting a statement, a question or a command. direct indirect reported clause statement ‘I’m tired,’ I said. I told them (that) I was […]

modal auxiliary verbs: introduction

What are modal auxiliary verbs? The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall (mainly British English), should, must and ought are called ‘modal auxiliary verbs’. We can use them before the infinitives of other verbs and add certain kinds of meaning connected with certainty, or with obligation and freedom to act (see next section). […]