Note : We don't change the tense of the direct when it refers to general statements of fact , timeless truths , habitual or everyday activities , and proverbs
e.g :
The teacher said , " A friend in need is a friend in need . "
The teacher said a friend in need is a friend in need .
Complement :
7- Past perfect = past perfect , e.g :
She said , " I had written three letters before he came . "
She said ( that ) she had written three letters before he had come.
8- Siple future changes to future in the past , e.g :
He said , " I shall beat him easily . "
He said he would beat him easily.
9- Future continuous changes to future in past continuous , e.g :
Sami said : " I shall be going to the match this afternoon . "
Sami said he would be going to the match this afternoon .
10- Future perfect changes to future in past perfect , e.g :
The girls said , " At nine o'clock we shall have gone to the theatre . "
The girls said at nine o'clock they would have gone to the theatre.
11- Future perfect continuous changes to future in past perfect continuous ,e.g:
He said , " By soon I shall have been walking for three hours."
He said by soon he would have been walking for three hours.
Note : There are some adverbs and demonstrative pronouns that must be changed when changing the sentence from direct into indirect speech , such as :
here changes to there
this changes to that
these changes to those
now changes to then , at once , just then
today changes to that day
tomorrow changes to the next day
yesterday changes to the day before , the previous day
ago changes to before
e.g : He said , " I want this bag here and these boxes as well . "
He said he wanted that bag there and those boxes as well.