Modal Verbs in Indirect Speech

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
Ann: I can't skate.	Ann said she could not skate.
Ann: I could not get them on the phone.	Ann said that she had not been able to get them on the phone.
Ann: They may come any day.	Ann said that that they might come any time.
Ann: You might catch a cold in this thin dress.	Ann said that I might catch a coat in that thin dress.
Ann: I must change if I go by bus.	Ann said that she had to change if she went by bus.
Ann: My friends must already be waiting for me. (subjective modality).	Ann supposed that her friends must be waiting for her. Ann was sure that her friends were waiting for her.
Ann: The conference is to begin at seven.	Ann said that the conference was to begin at seven.
Ann: The boat was to arrive early in the morning.	Ann said that the boat was to arrive early that morning.
Ann: You should devote more time to your studies, Betty.	Ann said that Betty should devote more time to her studies.
Ann: John needn't phone for the doctor. I feel better.	Ann said that John needn't phone for the doctor for she felt better.

Question tags

I. Formation.

A Tag Question is a short question that follows a statement. These short additions to sentences are used to ask for agreement of confirmation.

A Tag question is formed by auxiliary + subject. Positive sentences are generally followed by a negative tag question. Negative sentences are generally followed by a positive tag question.

The following rules should be observed:

1) When the subject of the sentence is this/that, use it in the tag.

• That’s nice, isn’t it?

2) When the subject of the sentence is these/those, use they in the tag.

• Those are beautiful, aren’t they?

3) When the subject of the sentence is a word like no-one, someone, everyone, the tag uses the pronoun they.

• Everyone’s coming tonight, aren’t they?

4) Sentences with negative subjects like no-one, nothing, neither, anyone behave like negative sentences and have a positive tag.

• Nobody saw you, did they?

• I don’t think anyone is coming, are they?

5) Imperative sentences use will in the tag.

• Don’t do that again, will you?

6) Sentences with Let’s … use shall in the tag.

• Let’s go there tomorrow, shall we?

II. Agreeing and disagreeing with question tags

• He’s leaving soon, isn’t he? - Yes, he is. (agreeing)/ No, he isn’t. (disagreeing)

• He isn’t leaving today, is he?- No, he isn’t. (agreeing)/ Yes, he is. (disagreeing)