reporting 的問題有關modal verb

'You need to write your sentences on every line,' the teacher said.

The best way to change the above sentence into reported speech is to include an object to express whom the teacher spoke to.

(1) The teacher instructed the student to write their sentences on every line.
(instruct + object + to do something)

(2) The teacher advised the student that they needed to write their sentences on every line. ("they" refers to the students)

(3) The teacher suggested that the students (should) write their sentences on every line.

NOTE: the verb "need" used here is not a modal, but means "should". Therefore, it has to be changed to past tense in the indirect speech.

'Tom'll take you all to Stanley Market,' said George.
It must be mentioned somewhere before this sentence that whom George was speaking to. Otherwise, an object must be added in the reported speech.
George told the students that Tom would take them all to Stanley Market.

' I don't usually go hiking,' said Phil.
In reported speech, you report what Phil said in the past irrespective of whether it is factual or not. The tense has to be shifted based on the time of speaking.


2011-10-11 18:37:31 補充：
correction: "the student" in the above sentences should be in plural form, such as
(1) The teacher instructed the students to write ...
(2) The teacher advised the students that they needed ...