In the following question, a sentence is given in Direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same sentence in Indirect (reported) speech: Ritu said to you, "You are looking very pretty."

Introduction / Context:
This question examines how to convert a present continuous compliment in Direct speech into Indirect speech. The direct sentence is: Ritu said to you, "You are looking very pretty." You must pay attention to the change of pronouns, the tense shift, and the introduction of the conjunction "that".

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Reporting clause: Ritu said to you. - Reported clause: "You are looking very pretty." - Tense in the reported clause: present continuous (are looking). - The listener is "you", who is also the person being complimented.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), a present continuous form in the reported speech usually changes to its past continuous counterpart in Indirect speech. The pronoun "you" in the quoted words refers to the person addressed by Ritu; in reported form, that person is still "you" from the perspective of the narrator. The verb "said to" is often changed to "told" when followed directly by an object pronoun. The conjunction "that" is used to introduce the reported clause in a clear and formal way, which is typical in exam-style questions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Change "said to you" into "told you" to make the reporting clause more natural. Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with "that". Step 3: Keep the pronoun "you" because in the reporting context the listener is still addressed as "you". Step 4: Change the tense of "are looking" (present continuous) to "were looking" (past continuous) because the reporting verb is in the past. Step 5: Keep the complement "very pretty" unchanged, as it is simply an adjective phrase. Step 6: The final reported sentence becomes: Ritu told you that you were looking very pretty.

Verification / Alternative check:
If we convert the Indirect sentence "Ritu told you that you were looking very pretty" back into Direct speech, we get: Ritu said to you, "You are looking very pretty." The compliment, the person receiving it, and the general sense of time are all preserved. This confirms that the transformation follows the standard rule of backshifting continuous tenses when the reporting verb is in the past.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B changes the pronoun in the reported clause to "I", which incorrectly suggests that Ritu was complimenting herself. Option C uses "she" as the subject of the compliment in the reported clause, again suggesting Ritu is talking about herself, which is not true. Option D does not backshift "are looking" to "were looking" even though the reporting verb "told" is in the past; this breaks the standard sequence of tenses.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often get confused about the pronoun "you" in reported speech. The correct choice depends on who "you" refers to: it can become "I", "we", "he", "she", "they", or stay "you". Another pitfall is to forget backshifting from present continuous to past continuous when the reporting verb is in the past. In exam questions, paying attention to who is speaking to whom and at what time helps you avoid these typical mistakes.

Final Answer:
Ritu told you that you were looking very pretty.