How do we change present tense to reported speech?

To change present tense to reported speech, we need to follow a few rules and make certain changes in the verb tense and pronouns. Here are the steps to convert present tense to reported speech:

1. Change the pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns usually change according to the context. For example, if the original sentence is "I am happy," in reported speech it would become "He/she/they is/are happy."

2. Change the verb tense: The verb tense in reported speech is usually shifted back in time. Present simple tense becomes past simple, present continuous becomes past continuous, and present perfect becomes past perfect. For example, "I am going to the party" would become "He/she/they was/were going to the party."

3. Change time expressions: Time expressions such as "today," "now," or "this week" need to be changed to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, "She is leaving today" would become "She was leaving that day."

4. Use reporting verbs: Introduce the reported speech with appropriate reporting verbs such as "said," "told," "asked," etc. These verbs are usually followed by a reporting clause. For example, "He said, 'I am tired'" would become "He said that he was tired."

5. Use reporting clauses: The reported speech is often introduced by a reporting clause, which can be placed before or after the reporting verb. For example, "She told me, 'I love you'" would become "She told me that she loved me."

It is important to note that these rules may vary depending on the context and the specific verb tense being used. Additionally, reported speech may also involve changes in modal verbs, adverbs, and other grammatical structures. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully analyze the original sentence and apply the appropriate changes accordingly.