134 Reported speech: the tense change A When do we change the tense? After a past-tense verb (. said), there is often a tense change. 'It really is cold today.' — Vicky said it was cold. If the statement is still up to date when we report it, then we have a choice. We can either leave the tense the same, or we can change it. You said you like/liked chocolate. Claire told me her father owns/owned a racehorse. Sarah said she's going/she was going to Rome in April. We can say that Sarah is going to Rome because it is still.
