sequence of tenses
The tense in a clause after a past verb of saying.
After a past verb such as said or thought, the next clause usually takes a past tense: She said the gate was shut. Keep the present when the fact still holds and you mean it to: She said the shop is on First Street. Do not mix the two by accident.
Examples
UseHe said the crate was late.
UseHe said the office is still open. (If it still is.)
AvoidHe said the crate is late. (If he was reporting a delay that had already happened.)