1. We're supposed to change the verbs in the brackets into the correct form. The whole story is in the past.
He turned away (turn away) from her and saw (see) the bouncy castle. You climb (climb) up the stairs to a bouncy ledge, slide (slide) and tumble (tumble) down a wide, bouncy slope, and then, to your hearts content, you bounce (bounce) and bounce (bounce). Malik Solanka paid (pay) his money and slipped off (slip off) his shoes.
Q: Is there any reason I should change those present simple verbs into the past simple? I'm not sure if I'm supposed to use the back shift here or not.
2. She said she may come.
She said she might come.
Q: Is there any difference in meaning between the two? In high school we were taught the latter is less likely to happen. However, my teacher mentioned nothing of the sort, and my book doesn't either.
3. My sister said: "You may borrow my car tonight."
My sister said I could borrow her car that night.
Q: Is there any need to change the time adverbial? This is also something that was obligatory in high school, but went without mention in my uni classes.
4. She said: "I like ice cream."
She said she liked ice cream.
She said she likes ice cream.
Q: Which one? I know I'm supposed to back shift, but could the latter pass here as well?
Thank you.