Modals, voice, conditionals and narration

English (Précis and Composition) · Grammar · Verbs and tenses. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.

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The idea

This topic joins four small skills. A modal (can, must, may, should) shows ability, duty, possibility or advice and is always followed by the base form of the verb.

In the passive, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the verb becomes a form of 'be' + past participle in the same tense. In indirect speech after a past reporting verb, the tense moves back, and pronouns and time words change to suit the new speaker.

A conditional has an if-clause and a main clause. Decide first whether the condition is real, unreal now, or unreal in the past. That decision fixes both verb forms.

Rules to remember

Modals: can/could (ability), must/have to (obligation), may/might (possibility, permission), should/ought to/had better (advice), cannot (something logically impossible).
should have + past participle: the right thing to do in the past, which was not done.
Passive = form of be + past participle, same tense: is writing → is being written; has written → has been written.
Zero conditional: if + present, present (always true). First: if + present, will + base form (real future).
Second (unreal now): if + past simple, would + base form, with 'were' for all persons (If I were you; I wish I were).
Third (unreal past): if + had + past participle, would have + past participle.
Reported question: asked + if/whether or the question word, statement word order, no do/does/did, no question mark.

Common mistake

Putting 'would' in the if-clause, as in 'If I would have time, I would come'. The if-clause takes the past simple or past perfect; 'would' belongs only in the main clause.

Worked example

Change into indirect speech: The officer said to me, "Are you ready now?"

It is a yes/no question, so use 'asked' with 'if' or 'whether'.
Use statement order and move the tense back: 'are you' becomes 'I was' (you → I, because he was speaking to me).
Change the time word: 'now' becomes 'then'. Drop the question mark.

Answer: The officer asked me if (or whether) I was ready then.

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