To convert direct speech to reported speech, we must change all the present tenses in the direct speech to the corresponding past tenses in the reported speech and to report questions and commands use a reporting verb like request, order, tell, advise, beseech, threaten, beg, implore, ask, propose and forbid. Note that all of these verbs except propose must be followed by an object. Commands and requests are usually reported using a to-infinitive. That-clauses can also be used.
In reported speech we need to use the past tense form of the verb. In direct speech the present tense is used. As you can see, in the above sentence 'am' changes to 'was' when we use reported speech.
