I asked + present/past tense

Question

Consider the examples:

"My name is Ricky."

He said his name is Ricky.

The tense is not backshifted in #2 because his name is and will always be Ricky. Also consider:

Ricky says: "I live in Paris."

Ricky said that he lives in Paris.

The tense is not backshifted in #4 because he still lives in Paris.

For examples #2 and #4, it is possible to not backshift the tense because the reporting words are still true at the time of reporting, but what will you say about the following examples:

I asked what his name is.
  I asked where he lives.

Here, is it correct for #5 and #6 to not backshift the tense?

If #5 and #6 are correct, then under what conditions is it correct to not backshift the verb like that?

aparente001 · Answer

I asked what his name is.
  I asked where he lives.

These work fine.  When I have asked someone a question recently, then I am comfortable using the present tense.  I'll paint you a picture.  My son and I go to the library.  We see an acquaintance from a little bit of a distance.  My son goes over to say hi.  When he comes back, he excitedly reports, "I asked him what his name is, and you're not going to believe it, but it's the same as my brother so-and-so, only he spells it differently.  And I asked him where he lives, and it turns out he lives right around the corner from us!"

I asked + present/past tense

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