The rules
- Use say without a listener and tell with a listener: She said that she was busy. She told me that she was busy.
- After a past reporting verb, move the tense one step back (am → was, did → had done, will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to): “I will help,” he said. → He said that he would help.
- Keep the tense when the reporting verb is present, and you may keep it for a fact that is still true: She says that the bus will be late. The teacher said that water boils at 100 °C.
- Change pronouns and time and place words to fit the reporter (today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, yesterday → the day before, here → there, now → then, ago → before): “I came here yesterday,” Ram said. → Ram said that he had come there the day before.
- Report yes/no questions with asked + if or whether, and every reported question in statement word order with no do, does, did or question mark: “Do you live here?” → She asked me if I lived there.
- Report commands and requests with told, asked or ordered + someone + to or not to: “Don’t run,” the teacher said. → The teacher told us not to run.
- Report suggestions with suggested + -ing or suggested that we + base verb: “Let’s walk.” → He suggested walking. He suggested that we walk.
This time: 0 right, 0 wrong