In Tenses^x, Indirect speech^x

i can't seem to find a hard-and-fast rule for a situation like this: "I wish I could say (that) I was happy" (if the speaker is attempting to express that he/she IS NOT HAPPY RIGHT NOW) would it be incorrect to express this as: "I wish I could say I'm happy".... one hears this sort of thing...

It is said that in the indirect speech the tense in the adverbial clause introduced by "since" is unnecessary to be changed. eg. He said , "I have studied English since I was a child . "→He said that he had studied English since he was a child. But what about the following question: They...

We might not have the same edition. In my case, it's Swan 482, reporting (3), advanced points, item 5, modal verbs in indirect speech on page 505

As per Swan, must is usually unchanged in indirect speech after past reporting verbs: ------- Direct: It must be really late. I really must go. Indirect: She said it must be pretty late and she really must go. Swan, reporting (3), advanced points, modal verbs in indirect...

Inchoateknowledge wrote: Alienvoord wrote:I wish I knew what is happening next week. I wish I knew what was happening next week.Neither of these is wrong, but the second sounds much more natural to me.In indirect speech, "next" becomes "the next" in past tenseThe second sentence is incorrect.A...

Tomorrow's news (in NYT?): Calive said he is thankful to everyone who helped him clear the doubt. That was a very clever response! It made me smile. CJ

You can distance the time of reporting from the time of when the speaker spoke by using "said" and then use the present to show that you assume, or know, that he is still being flooded by... and planning... .

I have learned something new. Tomorrow's news (in NYT?): Calive said he is thankful to everyone who helped him clear the doubt.

I am wondering whether it should be "...he said he was being...and was planning..." as it is indrect speech. It could have been restated as you suggest, but it is fine as is. This is an example of "immediately reported" indirect speech. What is "immediate", i.e., "the present", can be...

Now, after building dozens of the walls in universities, condominiums and offices for $10,000 to $20,000 each, he said he is being flooded with inquiries from homeowners and is planning to expand into the residential market. I am wondering whether it should be "...he said he was being...and was...