Select the indirect (reported) speech form that best expresses the sentence: The doctor said, "Well, what can I do for you?"

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your knowledge of changing direct speech into indirect or reported speech. The original sentence is a polite question spoken by a doctor: The doctor said, "Well, what can I do for you?" Indirect speech transformations are heavily tested in English exams because they require correct changes in pronouns, verb forms, and question structure. Your task is to pick the reported speech version that best preserves both the meaning and the polite tone of the original question.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Reporting clause: The doctor said, introducing the spoken words.
• Reported question: Well, what can I do for you?
• The sentence is clearly a question about what help the doctor can provide.
• The reporting verb said can be converted into a more suitable reporting verb in indirect speech, such as asked or wanted to know.
• Pronouns and the modal can must be adjusted appropriately.

Concept / Approach:
When converting a direct question to indirect speech, we usually change the question form into a statement form and adjust pronouns and tenses according to the rules of sequence of tenses. The question word what remains, but can usually changes to could when the reporting verb is in the past. We also remove the question mark and introduce a reporting verb that suits the context, such as asked or wanted to know. In this case, the doctor is politely finding out what help he can offer, so a reporting verb that expresses this polite enquiry, like wanted to know, fits very well.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the main sense of the question: the doctor is asking what service or help he can provide for the patient. Step 2: Change the pronouns: I becomes he, and you becomes her, assuming the doctor is male and the patient is female, which is the standard exam convention. Step 3: Apply the sequence of tenses: can becomes could in reported speech because said is in the past. Step 4: Convert the question form what can I do for you into the statement form what he could do for her. Step 5: Choose a reporting verb that fits the meaning. The doctor wanted to know what he could do for her accurately reflects a polite enquiry.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare Option A and Option C carefully. Option A states The doctor wanted to know what he could do for her, which clearly shows the doctor's intention to help and preserves the question meaning. Option C says The doctor asked what he could do for her, which is also grammatically acceptable, but the given options include only one best answer. Because the original direct speech uses said with a gentle well and a service oriented question, many exam keys accept wanted to know as the more nuanced reported verb. Options B and D either add a negative idea that was not present or alter the meaning of the question, so they cannot be considered correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The doctor said that he could not do anything for her.: This is wrong because the original sentence does not express inability or refusal. It is an offer of help, not a denial of help.
The doctor asked what he could do for her.: This is grammatically correct but in this set the intended key is the version that highlights the desire to know, which is captured more precisely by wanted to know. Exam questions often include very close distractors to test subtle understanding, and only one option is marked correct.
The doctor wondered what he could not do for her.: This is wrong because it adds a negative not and suggests something very different: thinking about limits, not simply offering help.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes forget to change can to could when reporting in the past, or they keep the question word order, writing what could he do for her, which is incorrect in indirect speech. Another common error is introducing a negative idea that did not exist in the original sentence. When working with direct and indirect speech questions, always keep the core meaning intact while adjusting pronouns, tenses, and word order. Do not add or remove key ideas such as ability, willingness, or negation.

Final Answer:
The best reported speech form is The doctor wanted to know what he could do for her.