Explain the concept of present tense in reported speech.

In reported speech, the concept of present tense refers to the way in which we report or relay information that was originally spoken in the present tense. When we report someone's words or thoughts, we often need to change the verb tenses to reflect the time shift from the original statement to the reporting moment.

When reporting statements or thoughts that were expressed in the present tense, we generally make the following changes:

1. Reporting verb: The reporting verb is usually changed to a past tense verb, such as "said," "told," or "asked." For example, "He says, 'I am happy'" would be reported as "He said that he was happy."

2. Pronouns: Pronouns may also need to be changed to reflect the shift in perspective. For example, "I am going to the store" would be reported as "She said that she was going to the store."

3. Verb tense: The present tense verb in the original statement is typically changed to the past tense in reported speech. For example, "I love this song" would be reported as "She said that she loved that song."

However, it is important to note that there are some exceptions to these general rules. For example, if the reported statement is still true or relevant at the time of reporting, we can choose to keep the present tense in reported speech. This is often the case when reporting facts, general truths, or permanent situations. For example, "He says, 'Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius'" can be reported as "He says that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."

Additionally, when reporting future events or plans, we can use the present tense in reported speech if the event or plan is still expected to happen in the future. For example, "She says, 'I am going to visit my parents next week'" can be reported as "She says that she is going to visit her parents next week."

In summary, the concept of present tense in reported speech involves changing the reporting verb to a past tense, adjusting pronouns, and converting the present tense verb in the original statement to the past tense. However, there are exceptions where the present tense can be retained in reported speech, depending on the context and relevance of the reported information.