How do you change pronouns in reported speech?

When changing pronouns in reported speech, there are a few rules to follow. The main objective is to accurately convey what someone else said while adjusting the pronouns to match the perspective of the reporting speaker. Here are the steps to change pronouns in reported speech:

1. Identify the original speaker and the reported speaker: Determine who originally said the statement and who is reporting it. This will help in understanding the perspective from which the pronouns need to be changed.

2. Change the pronouns to match the reported speaker's perspective: If the original speaker used the first person pronoun "I," it should be changed to the reported speaker's first person pronoun, such as "he" or "she." For example, if the original speaker said, "I am happy," the reported speaker would say, "He/she said he/she was happy."

3. Change the pronouns to match the reported speaker's perspective for the second person: If the original speaker used the second person pronoun "you," it should be changed to the reported speaker's second person pronoun, such as "he" or "she." For example, if the original speaker said, "You should go," the reported speaker would say, "He/she said he/she should go."

4. Change the pronouns to match the reported speaker's perspective for the third person: If the original speaker used the third person pronouns "he," "she," or "they," they usually remain the same in reported speech. However, if the reported speaker is referring to a different person, the pronouns should be adjusted accordingly. For example, if the original speaker said, "He is coming," and the reported speaker is referring to a different person, they would say, "He/she said he was coming."

5. Change possessive pronouns: Possessive pronouns like "my," "your," "his," "her," and "their" should also be adjusted to match the reported speaker's perspective. For example, if the original speaker said, "This is my book," the reported speaker would say, "He/she said that was his/her book."

It is important to note that when changing pronouns in reported speech, the tense of the verb may also need to be adjusted depending on the context and the time of the reported speech. Additionally, indirect objects and reflexive pronouns should also be changed accordingly. Overall, the key is to accurately convey the original speaker's words while adjusting the pronouns to match the perspective of the reported speaker.