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I was wondering which tense should be used in the following indirect questions?

First case:
1.1. Where are you going? → I asked where you are going
1.2. Where are you going? → I asked where you were going

Second case:
2.1. Why are you crying? → He asked me why I am crying
2.2. Why are you crying? → He asked me why I was crying

I think since the tense of main verb within the indirect question is simple past, the correct sentences would be "#1.2" and "#2.2".

I wonder if you could correct me if I am mistaken.

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  • (Native speakers normally "backshift" the verb in contexts like your examples, so the second option is "more correct".) – FumbleFingers Nov 2 '20 at 13:34
  • If you're interested in the syntax, the where and why expressions are subordinate interrogative clauses (embedded questions). – BillJ Nov 2 '20 at 14:05