What are the rules for using reported speech in writing?

The rules for using reported speech in writing are as follows:

1. Change of pronouns: The pronouns used in the reported speech are usually changed to reflect the perspective of the speaker. For example, "He said, 'I am happy'" would be reported as "He said that he was happy."

2. Change of verb tense: The verb tense used in the reported speech is often shifted back in time. For example, "She said, 'I will go to the party'" would be reported as "She said that she would go to the party."

3. Change of time and place expressions: Time and place expressions in the reported speech may need to be adjusted to reflect the new context. For example, "They said, 'We are going to the beach tomorrow'" would be reported as "They said that they were going to the beach the next day."

4. Use of reporting verbs: Reporting verbs such as "said," "told," "asked," etc., are used to introduce the reported speech. These verbs can be modified to indicate the speaker's attitude or the manner in which the speech was delivered. For example, "He exclaimed, 'What a beautiful day!'" would be reported as "He exclaimed with delight that it was a beautiful day."

5. Use of reporting clauses: Reporting clauses, such as "that," "if," or "whether," are used to connect the reporting verb with the reported speech. For example, "She asked, 'Can you help me?'" would be reported as "She asked if I could help her."

6. Punctuation changes: In reported speech, quotation marks are usually omitted, and indirect speech is often separated from the reporting verb with a comma. For example, "He said, 'I love you'" would be reported as "He said that he loved her."

It is important to note that these rules may vary depending on the specific context and style of writing.