In Difference between^x, Direct speech^x

While doing some reported/indirect speech stuff (again!) lots of questions has come to my mind. Here are some of them. 1/ 'I never eat meat', (Bill said/explained) -> turns into -> Bill said/explained (that) he never ate meat. - This is the normal way in which most of us...

Dear teachers, - What is the difference in meaning between all these sentences ? Are they all correct ? 1a) My friend MAY BE ill. = Present; There is a strong possibility ? b) My friend MIGHT BE ill. = Conditional; There is a weaker possibility ? c) My friend MIGHT HAVE BEEN ill. =...