In this English grammar question on direct and indirect speech, choose the option that correctly reports the habitual statement: "I always drink warm water in the morning," she said to me.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of how to report a habitual action stated in the simple present tense when the reporting verb is in the past. The original sentence describes a personal routine related to health: drinking warm water every morning. When such a sentence is changed into indirect speech, you must apply the rules of tense backshift while keeping the idea of habit intact. This type of transformation is very common in English grammar examinations and helps demonstrate a solid grasp of reported speech.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct sentence: "I always drink warm water in the morning," she said to me.
• Reporting verb: said to, which can remain said to me or become told me in another style.
• The speaker is she, and the listener is me.
• The main verb in the reported clause is drink, in the simple present tense.
• The adverb of frequency always and the time phrase in the morning show a repeated habit.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, many exam boards teach that we should backshift the tense of the reported clause, especially when the statement describes something from a past point of view. In such patterns, a simple present verb such as drink typically becomes simple past drank, even though the idea is still a habit. Pronoun I must be changed to she, because the speaker is a female third person. We also need to introduce the reported clause with that for formal correctness in many exam keys. The general structure thus becomes: She said to me that she always drank warm water in the morning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Keep the reporting clause as She said to me or change it to She told me, both are acceptable structures. Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with that for formal exam style: that she always drink. Step 3: Change the pronoun I to she, because the speaker is a woman being referred to in the third person. Step 4: Backshift the simple present verb drink to the simple past drank to match the past reporting verb said. Step 5: Retain the adverb always and the time phrase in the morning to preserve the idea of a regular habit.

Verification / Alternative check:
The resulting sentence is: She said to me that she always drank warm water in the morning. It maintains the meaning that she regularly drinks warm water, uses the correct pronoun, and follows the sequence of tenses rule as commonly tested. The structure is smooth and grammatically standard, and it clearly mirrors the original statement with only the changes needed for reported speech.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is incorrect because it keeps drinks, failing to backshift the tense after a past reporting verb in the way exam patterns expect.
Option C is incorrect because it omits that and still keeps drinks, so the transformation is less formal and does not match the expected answer key style.
Option E is incorrect because would always drink suggests a future in the past, which changes the meaning from a simple statement of habit to a more speculative idea.
Option B and Option D are essentially the same meaningful structure, but Option D includes that explicitly and is the most complete formal version, which is why it is selected as the best answer here.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often hesitate about whether to change a habitual present into past tense in reported speech. In many examination contexts, keeping the tense unchanged may be acceptable in real use, but the exam key typically prefers formal backshift. Another common error is leaving pronouns unchanged, such as keeping I instead of turning it into she. Learners may also omit that in very formal contexts where exam setters expect it. To avoid losing marks, carefully follow the standard rules taught for reported speech in your syllabus.

Final Answer:
She said to me that she always drank warm water in the morning.