In this direct and indirect speech question, choose the option that correctly reports the statement: Lila said to her mother, "I can choose to dress the way I want to."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your ability to report a statement about personal choice expressed with the modal can. Lila is asserting her right to choose how she dresses. When this sentence is converted into indirect speech, you must treat the modal can correctly, handle pronoun changes, and preserve the structure of the infinitive phrase to dress the way I want to. Such questions are familiar in exams that test reported speech and modal verbs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct sentence: Lila said to her mother, "I can choose to dress the way I want to."
• Reporting verb: said to, with object her mother.
• The modal verb can expresses ability or right.
• Lila speaks about herself and her choices.
• The structure to dress the way I want to is an infinitive phrase expressing manner.

Concept / Approach:
In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past, can often changes to could. The pronoun I becomes she because Lila is now referred to in the third person. The infinitive phrase to dress the way I want to becomes to dress the way she wanted to, with the verb want usually backshifted to wanted. The reporting verb said to her mother is transformed into told her mother. Together, these changes yield Lila told her mother that she could choose to dress the way she wanted to.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Change the reporting verb phrase said to her mother to told her mother. Step 2: Begin the reported clause with that for a complete indirect sentence. Step 3: Replace I with she, since Lila is being referred to in the third person. Step 4: Convert can to could in accordance with the usual tense backshift rule for modals. Step 5: Change want to wanted while keeping the phrase to dress the way she wanted to intact.

Verification / Alternative check:
The final sentence is: Lila told her mother that she could choose to dress the way she wanted to. It preserves the idea that Lila believes she has the ability or right to choose her clothes. The structure is grammatically sound, and the tense and pronoun changes follow the standard reported speech rules. This is what exam setters expect as the correct transformation for this sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is incorrect because it keeps can and wants, which does not fully follow tense backshift after a past reporting verb.
Option C changes can choose to would choose, which suggests a more conditional or future in the past meaning rather than expressing a general right.
Option D is incorrect because could be choosing is a progressive form that alters the meaning from a general right to a specific ongoing action.
Option E is incorrect because had chosen describes a completed past action, not an ongoing right or ability.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes forget to change both can and want when converting such sentences into indirect speech. Another frequent issue is mismanaging pronouns, especially when the speaker mentions themselves many times. Learners may also mistakenly use conditional forms like would choose when no condition is stated. To avoid errors, clearly identify the modal, the main verb, and all instances of I that must become she, then apply the usual backshift rules consistently.

Final Answer:
Lila told her mother that she could choose to dress the way she wanted to.