Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal.He said that he _______…

The correct answer is Option (2) → C only

Modals in indirect speech:

• When the reporting verb is in the past ("He said"), the modals of the reported words move one step back:
  • will → would, can → could, may → might.
• This sentence: the reported part is in the past ("provided he got the ticket"), and the coming is only a possibility, so the modal is might.

Complete sentence: He said that he might come, provided he got the ticket for the train.

A. will — Incorrect.

• After the past reporting verb, "will" changes to "would".

B. can — Incorrect.

• "Can" changes to "could", and it shows ability, not possibility.

C. might — Correct.

• It is the past form of "may" and shows a possibility that depends on getting the ticket.

D. may — Incorrect.

• After "said", "may" moves back to its past form, "might".

Tip: In this question the options do not follow the order of the statements (Option 1 = B only, Option 2 = C only, Option 3 = A only, Option 4 = D only). NTA often jumbles the options in this way, so after finding the correct statement, read the options carefully and mark the one with the right letter.