In this English grammar question on direct and indirect speech, choose the option that correctly reports the expression of gratitude: The beggar said to her, "Thank you for your kindness."

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your ability to report a short expression of thanks from direct speech into indirect speech. The original sentence shows a beggar expressing gratitude to a woman. In reported speech, we usually convert such direct expressions into a simple verb phrase like thanked. Knowing how to compact such expressions while preserving meaning is important in grammar exams dealing with reported speech.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct sentence: The beggar said to her, "Thank you for your kindness."
• Reporting verb: said to, with object her.
• The direct speech contains the phrase Thank you for your kindness.
• The subject in the report is the beggar.
• The person being thanked is her, the listener.

Concept / Approach:
Expressions like Thank you for your kindness are usually reported using the verb thanked. We can convert The beggar said to her, "Thank you for your kindness" into The beggar thanked her for her kindness. This compact transformation is standard because it maintains the meaning while avoiding an awkward literal translation. There is no need for a that clause here; the verb thanked already contains the idea of thanking someone for something.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the speech act as an expression of gratitude. Step 2: Replace said to her with thanked her, which directly encodes the act of thanking. Step 3: Keep the phrase for her kindness as the reason for the gratitude. Step 4: Omit the quotation marks and the phrase Thank you because they are represented by the verb thanked. Step 5: Confirm that the final sentence clearly states that the beggar expressed thanks to her for her kindness.

Verification / Alternative check:
The final sentence is: The beggar thanked her for her kindness. It is concise, grammatically correct, and fully captures the meaning of the original direct speech. This pattern is widely accepted in textbooks and exams as the correct way to report such short expressions of thanks.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is less natural because said that he thanked her is more wordy and not the usual compact style used for such expressions.
Option C changes the wording to was thankful, which is acceptable but not as direct or standard as thanked her for her kindness.
Option D uses told her that he was grateful, which again changes the structure and is longer than needed, though close in meaning.
Option E is incorrect because had thanked implies that the thanking happened earlier and is being reported later, which complicates the simple act of thanking shown in the original sentence.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes overcomplicate the reporting of simple expressions by adding too many auxiliary verbs or unnecessary clauses. Another issue is forgetting that said to can often be replaced by a more precise verb such as thanked in contexts of gratitude. To avoid mistakes, identify the core speech act first and choose a verb that directly expresses it, then keep the rest of the sentence as simple as possible.

Final Answer:
The beggar thanked her for her kindness.