In this direct and indirect speech question, the sentence "Anil says, \"I am glad to be here this morning\"" is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same idea in indirect speech.

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of converting direct speech into indirect speech when the reporting verb is in the present tense. The direct sentence is "Anil says, I am glad to be here this morning". When the reporting verb "says" is in the present tense, the reported clause usually keeps its tense if the situation is still true at the time of reporting. You must choose the indirect form that correctly follows this rule and maintains the meaning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct sentence: "Anil says, I am glad to be here this morning".
• Reporting verb: "says" (present simple).
• Reported speech: "I am glad to be here this morning".
• We assume the situation is still current at the time of speaking.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the present tense and the statement refers to something that is still valid, the tense of the reported speech usually does not change. Therefore, "am" remains "is". Also, when "here" still refers to the same place, it can remain "here" in indirect speech. The conjunction "that" is often used after "says". The correct indirect speech should therefore be "Anil says that he is glad to be here this morning". Options that change the tense unnecessarily or change "here" to "there" and "this" to "that" may not fit the assumed context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace the first person pronoun "I" in the direct speech with "he" to match the subject Anil. Step 2: Since the reporting verb is "says" in present tense and the statement is still true, keep the present tense "am" as "is" in indirect speech. Step 3: Add the conjunction "that" after "says" to introduce the reported clause. Step 4: Decide on place and time words. As the speaker and listener are assumed to be in the same place and on the same morning, "here this morning" can remain unchanged. Step 5: The sentence becomes: "Anil says that he is glad to be here this morning."

Verification / Alternative check:
Check the options against this logic. Options A and D use "there that morning", which is more appropriate when the speaker and listener are in a different place or reporting at a later time. Option B changes the reporting verb to "was saying" and shifts everything into the past, which is not given in the question. Option C uses "was glad", also moving the statement into the past, which is unnecessary when "says" is present. Option E matches the reasoning and maintains the original sense and timing.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options A and D incorrectly change the place and time reference to "there that morning" without any context that demands such a shift. Option B changes both the reporting verb and the reported speech tense, which alters the meaning. Option C mixes present reporting "says" with past "was glad", which is inconsistent and suggests that Anil is no longer glad. Only option E keeps the time frame and context aligned with the original direct speech.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often apply backshifting rules mechanically without considering the tense of the reporting verb and the reality of the situation. Backshift is necessary when the reporting verb is in the past, but not always when it is in the present. Another common error is to change all deictic words like "here" and "this" automatically, even when the context suggests no change. It is important to think logically about who is speaking, where, and when.

Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech is Anil says that he is glad to be here this morning.