inconsistent tense with indirect speech-- common mistake?

[river]

This is known as the "ongoing-truth exception": When a subordinate clause states an ongoing or general truth, it should be in the present tense regardless of the tense in the principal clause. (Bryan Garner) Yesterday, he said that he is Jewish.

[dihen]

Originally Posted by riverkid

No ENL alive would ever take C2 to mean that "she has gone to New York".

What about as "she is not going to New York anymore; now she has decided to not"?

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by dihen

What about as "she is not going to New York anymore; now she has decided to not"?

Dihen,

Reported speech doesn't and can't make any specific claims as to what eventually happens. All it is is one person telling another/others what someone said. The speaker could be a complete liar or the speaker might change their mind, or die, or move to South America or join a monastery.

All "She said that she is not going to New York anymore" is is a report of,

"I'm not going to go to New York anymore." or a statement of a similar nature.

[riverkid]

Changed my mind.

[dihen]

Originally Posted by riverkid

Changed my mind.

About what?
`
-------
Do you accept these?
`
I think he was there yesterday.
I think you did very well.

[Tdol]

I accept them.

[dihen]

Originally Posted by Tdol

I accept them.

Then why would a teacher say "I thought you all did very well." to the students instead of "I think..." after an activity that the students had?

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by riverkid

Changed my mind.

Ignore the above, Dihen. It was typed in the wrong place.

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by dihen

Then why would a teacher say "I thought you all did very well." to the students instead of "I think..." after an activity that the students had?

You could use either form. I would use the present directly after the activity, but I might use the past if referring to, say, the homework I had marked the night before but was handing out at the time of speaking.