Okay, here is the exact answer to how to change "shall" in indirect speech.
In indirect speech, the modal verb "shall" typically changes to "should".
When converting a direct statement containing "shall" into reported speech, the standard transformation is to replace "shall" with "should". This rule is similar to how "will" changes into "would" in reported speech¹
According to the provided information, “Shall” changes into “should”¹ in reported speech, mirroring the change of “will” into “would” in the same context.
Let's look at some examples to illustrate this transformation:
- Direct Speech: "I shall do it tomorrow."
- Indirect Speech: He said he should do it tomorrow.
- Direct Speech: "We shall overcome."
- Indirect Speech: She said they should overcome.
Here's a simple comparison table:
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech |
|---|---|
| Subject + shall + Verb | Subject + should + Verb |
This conversion ensures that the tense and mood of the reported statement align with the reporting verb, reflecting the shift in time and perspective from direct communication to reporting it later.
¹ Based on information from 01-Aug-2018.
