So the future becomes the present.
The present becomes the past.
And the past becomes the 'double' past, the Past Perfect.
- "I will come at 8."
- He said that he is coming at 8. (Future to Present, past also possible AND would!).
- "I am hungry."
- She said that she was hungry. (Present to Past)
- "They are reading."
- I said they were reading. (Present Continuous to Past Continuous)
- "Everyone ate their dinner."
- He said everyone had eaten their dinner. (Past to Past Perfect)
- "She had met him before."
- They told me she had met him before. (Past Perfect doesn't change).
- He said (that) he is going on holiday tomorrow.
- We told him (that) you were angry.
However, changing a tense is always fine if you are in doubt.
- "Rome is the capital of Italy."
- The man told us that Rome is/was the capital of Italy.
- The situation (fact) is still true.
- "I am cooking lasagna tonight."
- She said she is/was cooking lasagna tonight.
- The perspective (future plans for tonight) is still true.
- "Milan is the capital of Italy."
- The man told us that Milan was the capital of Italy!
- What he said and what IS true are different (according to me).
- "I am cooking lasagna tonight."
- She said she was cooking lasagna tonight.
- (But I don't believe her.)
- "I can swim."
- She said that she could swim.
- "They will be late."
- We said they would be late.
- "We may not have a lesson."
- They told me that they might not have a lesson.
- "I have lost my keys."
- He said he had lost his keys.
- "We will give it to you."
- They said they would give it to me.
For example, today, tomorrow, later, next week, this Saturday, etc.
- "We are working tomorrow." (said last week)
- They said they were working the next day.
- "I am meeting him this Saturday." (said a month ago)
- She told me she was meeting him that Saturday.
Put a personal direct object or person's name after TELL.
- Don't tell me what to do! (You tell someone something.)
- She told Mary about the problem. (You tell someone something.)
Don't put a personal direct object after SAY.
- She said she was hungry. (You say something.)
- I said the time but it was wrong. (You say something.)