What are the rules for reporting reported thoughts and beliefs in reported speech?

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What are the rules for reporting reported thoughts and beliefs in reported speech?

When reporting reported thoughts and beliefs in reported speech, there are several rules that need to be followed. These rules help to accurately convey the original speaker's thoughts and beliefs while maintaining the appropriate tense and pronoun changes. Here are the key rules for reporting reported thoughts and beliefs:

1. Change of pronouns: In reported speech, the pronouns used to refer to the original speaker may need to be changed. For example, if the original speaker said, "I believe that..." the reported speech would change it to "He/she believes that...". The pronouns should be adjusted according to the subject of the reported thoughts or beliefs.

2. Change of verb tense: The verb tense used in the reported thoughts and beliefs should be shifted to reflect the time of reporting. For example, if the original speaker said, "I thought it was a good idea," the reported speech would change it to "He/she thought it was a good idea." The past tense "was" is changed to reflect the present tense "is" in reported speech.

3. Reporting verbs: When reporting reported thoughts and beliefs, appropriate reporting verbs such as "believe," "think," "consider," or "assume" are used to introduce the reported speech. These verbs help to indicate that the following statement is a reported thought or belief. For example, "He/she believes that..." or "He/she thought that..."

4. Indirect speech: Reported thoughts and beliefs are usually presented in indirect speech rather than direct speech. This means that the reported speech is not enclosed in quotation marks and does not use the exact words of the original speaker. Instead, it is paraphrased to convey the same meaning.

5. Backshift of modals and adverbs: Modals and adverbs used in the original thoughts or beliefs may need to be backshifted in reported speech. For example, if the original speaker said, "I can do it," the reported speech would change it to "He/she said he/she could do it." The modal "can" is changed to "could" to reflect the past tense.

6. Reporting verbs in the past tense: If the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb tense in the reported speech remains unchanged. For example, if the reporting verb is "said," the reported thoughts and beliefs would also be in the past tense. However, if the reporting verb is in the present tense, the verb tense in the reported speech needs to be adjusted accordingly.

By following these rules, reported thoughts and beliefs can be accurately reported in reported speech, maintaining the integrity of the original speaker's intentions and beliefs.