When do we use the simple past tense in reported speech?

When do we use the simple past tense in reported speech?

We use the simple past tense in reported speech when we are reporting something that was said or done in the past. It is used to convey information or statements that were expressed in the past by someone else. For example, if someone said, "I went to the store yesterday," in reported speech, we would say, "He/she said that he/she went to the store yesterday." The simple past tense is used to accurately reflect the past tense of the original statement.