Is the sentence ' GRASS IS GREEN ' a universal truth? [closed]
The category of "universal truth" is a little vague and imprecise - it is better to think of it as "generally accepted as true." However, and unfortunately, I can't think of a better term.
(Compare He said "All swans are white" -> "He said that all swans are white." despite the fact that there are black swans in Australia.)
"Grass is green" is such a statement despite there being other shades of grass, including black.
Thus it is not necessary to backshift the tense in reported speech:
"He said that grass is green."