In this English grammar question on direct and indirect speech, choose the option that correctly changes the sentence into indirect speech: The boss said to the secretary, "Bring the file that I had given to you yesterday."

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of how to change an imperative sentence in direct speech into indirect or reported speech in English grammar. The original sentence is a polite command: the boss is instructing the secretary to bring a particular file. To select the correct option, you must apply the rules for reporting commands, adjust pronouns, and change time expressions like "yesterday" into their correct reported forms. This is a very common pattern in competitive exams and school level English tests, so mastering it will help you handle many similar questions with confidence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct sentence: The boss said to the secretary, "Bring the file that I had given to you yesterday."
• Reporting verb: said to, which becomes told in indirect speech when an object is present.
• The boss is the speaker, and the secretary is the listener.
• The command uses the base form of the verb: bring.
• Time expression used: yesterday, which must change in reported speech.

Concept / Approach:
To change an imperative sentence into indirect speech, we usually follow these steps. First, we change said to into a reporting verb like told, followed by the object. Second, we transform the imperative verb into a to infinitive, so bring becomes to bring. Third, we adjust pronouns so that I refers back to the boss and you refers to the secretary. Fourth, we apply the rule of sequence of tenses and change time expressions such as yesterday into the day before or the previous day in reported speech. Finally, we ensure that the structure sounds natural and grammatically correct in standard English usage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace said to with the correct reporting verb told because there is an object (the secretary). Step 2: Convert the imperative Bring into the infinitive structure to bring after the reporting clause. Step 3: Change the pronoun I so that it matches the subject the boss, which becomes he in indirect speech. Step 4: Change the pronoun you so that it refers to the secretary, which becomes her in indirect speech. Step 5: Change yesterday into the day before to fit standard reported speech time expression rules.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we put all the pieces together, we get: The boss told the secretary to bring the file that he had given her the day before. The reporting verb told is correct, the verb bring has become to bring, the pronouns I and you have become he and her, and the time expression yesterday has shifted to the day before. The tense of had given is already past perfect, which is acceptable to keep. Read the sentence again to check natural flow and grammatical accuracy. It clearly conveys the same meaning as the original command, so the transformation is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is incorrect because it keeps the verb gave and yesterday, which does not fully follow the standard sequence of tenses and time change rules expected in reported speech in exam patterns.
Option C is incorrect because it uses a that clause instead of the to infinitive and still keeps yesterday, which is not ideal in this reporting structure.
Option D is incorrect because had been giving suggests a continuous past action, which changes the meaning of the original simple completed action had given.
Option E is incorrect because would give the next day changes the time reference and suggests future time rather than referring to the file already given before the command.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners forget to change yesterday into the day before or the previous day when moving into reported speech. Another common mistake is to keep said to instead of changing it to told when a direct object is present. Learners also sometimes forget to adjust pronouns correctly, leaving I and you unchanged. Finally, some students overcomplicate the tense by using continuous or future forms that change the meaning. Always check pronouns, time expressions, reporting verbs, and verb forms carefully in such questions.

Final Answer:
The boss told the secretary to bring the file that he had given her the day before.