In this grammar question on reported speech, convert the sentence "I said to him, 'I am too tired now to go out with you.'" into its correct Indirect Speech form.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of how to report a statement containing the present continuous form am and the time adverb now. The direct sentence is: I said to him, "I am too tired now to go out with you." You must choose the indirect speech form that correctly shows tense backshift, changes the time word now to then and adjusts the pronoun you appropriately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Direct speech: I am too tired now to go out with you. - Reporting clause: I said to him. - Reporting verb: said, in the past tense. - Time adverb: now, referring to the present moment at the time of speaking.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present tense am usually changes to was in indirect speech. The time word now becomes then to show that the sentence is being reported later. The pronoun you in the original refers to him, so in indirect speech, when the narrator is the same I, the object pronoun remains him. The phrase to go out with you therefore becomes to go out with him in the reported version. The conjunction that links the reporting clause with the reported clause.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, reconstruct the direct speech from the indirect sentence. From I said to him that I was too tired then to go out with him, change was to am, then to now and him to you in the final phrase. Then add quotation marks. The result is: I said to him, "I am too tired now to go out with you." which matches the original sentence, so the indirect form is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B keeps am in the reported clause and mixes it with then, failing to backshift the tense. Option C uses was but keeps you, which is incorrect because the listener is now referred to in the third person. Option D keeps am and you, with only then changed, and therefore does not follow proper reported speech rules. Option E changes the structure to had been too tired, which introduces a past perfect nuance not present in the original, and is unnecessarily complex. Option A alone handles tense, time expression and pronoun changes correctly.

Common Pitfalls:
Typical mistakes include forgetting to change now to then or mismanaging the pronoun you when it should change to him or her. Students also sometimes overcomplicate the tense and use past perfect where simple past is sufficient. Remember that for most present continuous or present simple statements, a simple shift to past forms is enough in indirect speech. Always check subject references and time adverbs carefully.

Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech sentence is I said to him that I was too tired then to go out with him.