Reported speech

When the reporting verb is in the past (he said, she told me), the tense usually moves one step back:

Also change pronouns and time / place words: today → that day, tomorrow → the next day, yesterday → the day before, here → there, ago → before.

No backshift is needed if the reporting verb is in the present (He says he is tired) or if the fact is still true: She said she lives in Geneva.

• say vs tell: say (something), tell someone (something): He said that… / He told me that… (not “said me”).
• Questions: normal word order, no do / did, no question mark; yes/no questions with if / whether: “Where do you live?” → She asked where I lived. “Are you ready?” → He asked if I was ready.
• Orders and requests: tell / ask + person + (not) to + base: She told me to wait. He asked me not to smoke.