58. The verb in an indirect statement (53) or an indirect question
remains in the same tense in which it would be if the statement or
question were direct. (In English this is true only if the introductory
verb is present or future, since after an introductory past tense the
tense of the indirect quotation is changed, and "am, is, are, have,
will" become "was, were, had, would," etc.)
Mi diras ke li estas bona, I say that he is good.
" diris " " " " , I said that he was good.
" diros " " " " , I shall say that he is good.
Li miras cxu mi auxdas, he wonders whether I hear.
" miris " " " , he wondered whether I heard.
" miros " " " , he will wonder whether I hear.
Mi opiniis ke gxi estas bona, I thought that it was good
(I thought "it is good").
Oni miris cxu li venos, they wondered whether he would come
(they wondered "will he come?").
[Footnote: An indirect question is introduced by "cxu", whether, after
verbs meaning "ask," "wonder," "know," etc.: "Mi miras cxu li venis", I
wonder whether he came. "Oni demandas cxu li estas ricxa", people ask
whether he is rich.]