He said to me that… = He told me that…

“I am busy”	He said to me that he was busy.
“I am writing”	He said to me that he was writing.
“I have finished”	He said to me that he had finished.
“I wrote a letter.”	He said to me that he had written a letter.
“I can do it”	He said to me that he could do that.
“I will play cricket.”	He said to me that he would play cricket.
“Write a letter”	He told me to write a letter.
“Don’t waste time.”	He told me not to waste time.
“What is your name?”	He asked me what my name was.
“Where do you live?”	He asked me where I lived.
“Do you know English?”	He asked me if/whether I knew English.
“Did you play cricket?”	He asked me if/whether I had played cricket.
“Have you a pen?”	He asked me if/whether I had a pen.
“Can you speak English?”	He asked me if/whether I could speak English.
“Will you attend the class?”	He asked me if/whether I would attend the class.
“Would you care for tea?”	He offered me tea.
“I am sorry.”	He apologised to me.
“You are a fool.”	He called me a fool.
“I was writing.”	He said to me that he had been writing.

Notes:

‘That’ is optional after ‘say’ or ‘tell’. He said (that) he was busy.
‘Say’ can be used with or without a listener, but ‘tell’ requires a listener.
He said to me (that) he was busy = He told me (that) he was busy.

He said (that) he was busy. (correct)

He told (that) he was busy. (incorrect)

He told me (that) he was busy. (correct)

Usually, nearness indicating words are changed to distance indicating words.

Examples: here –> there, now –> then, ago –> before, come –> go

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