[RonBee]

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/reported-speech.htmlReported Speech (also called Indirect Speech) is used to communicate what someone else said, but without using the exact words. A few changes are necessary; often a pronoun has to be changed and the verb is usually moved back a tense, where possible.
EG: He said that he was going to come. (The person's exact words were "I'm going to come.")

Direct speech:

Matt said to his girlfriend, “Shall I buy you some crisps?”

Reported speech:

Matt asked his girlfriend if she wanted him to buy her some crisps.