present and past tenses???

[thomas615]

I read an article and I am confused by this sentence

She told him that she thinks a move back to United States would help save their marriage

in reported speech we change the present to the past tense ."She told him...." ..here the writer is using "she thinks"...can someone explain ? thank you

[5jj]

In reported speech, it is not necessary to back-shift tenses if what is reported is still true (though we can if we wish).

She told him that she thought... - She thought it at the time she told him. We don't know whether she still thinks it.

She told him that she thinks ... - She thinks this today.