Read the following direct speech sentence and choose the option that correctly converts it into indirect (reported) speech: Param said, "I am going to the gym now."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks a candidate's grasp of changing present continuous tense in direct speech to an appropriate tense in indirect speech, while also handling the time expression "now." It is a standard question type in competitive exams and school tests, designed to assess understanding of reported speech, tense backshift, and the correct handling of time and place references in English grammar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct speech: Param said, "I am going to the gym now."
• Reporting verb "said" is in the simple past.
• The quoted clause uses present continuous tense: "am going".
• Time adverb "now" refers to the time of speaking and usually changes in indirect speech.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the verb inside the quoted sentence generally shifts one step back in indirect speech. Present continuous ("am going") usually changes to past continuous ("was going"). Pronoun "I" in direct speech refers to Param and becomes "he" in indirect speech. The adverb of time "now" often changes to "then" to indicate that the action is placed in the past relative to the time of reporting. Combining all these changes yields the correct reported speech form.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Keep the reporting part "Param said" as it is, because there is no need to change its tense or structure. Step 2: Replace the comma and quotation marks with the conjunction "that" to join the reporting clause and the reported clause. Step 3: Change the pronoun "I" to "he," because Param is a third person subject when reported by someone else. Step 4: Convert "am going" (present continuous) to "was going" (past continuous), and change "now" to "then," resulting in: "Param said that he was going to the gym then."

Verification / Alternative check:
The final sentence "Param said that he was going to the gym then" follows the standard rules of reported speech. The tense has been properly backshifted from present continuous to past continuous, the pronoun has been adjusted to match the subject, and the time reference "now" has been changed to "then." The meaning remains that Param reported at some earlier moment that he was in the process of going to the gym at that time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A: "Param said that he has gone to the gym then." uses present perfect "has gone," which does not correspond to the original continuous action "am going" and creates a different meaning. Option C: "Param said that he had gone to the gym then." uses past perfect, which suggests that the action was completed before another past event. This does not match the ongoing nature of the action expressed by "am going." Option D: "Param said that he is going to the gym now." keeps the present continuous and the adverb "now," which is generally incorrect when the reporting verb is in the past tense. Option E: "Param said that he would go to the gym then." changes both the tense and the aspect and suggests a future intention rather than an action already in progress.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often struggle with two points: the backshift of the present continuous tense and the change of the adverb "now" to "then." Some students try to keep "now" unchanged, which makes the sentence sound inconsistent in indirect speech. Others incorrectly choose perfect or future forms ("has gone," "had gone," or "would go"), which alter the aspect and timing of the action. Always match the original aspect (continuous) and move the tense one step back when the reporting verb is in the past.

Final Answer:
The correct reported speech form is Param said that he was going to the gym then.