The sentence below is in direct speech: “Vinod said to me, ‘Has your brother returned from Dubai?’” Choose the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech.

Introduction:
This question checks your ability to convert a yes or no type question from direct speech into indirect speech. The original sentence shows Vinod asking about the return of the speaker's brother from Dubai. When we change such sentences to reported speech, we must adjust the reporting verb, the word order, and the tense where appropriate, while keeping the meaning unchanged.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Direct speech: Vinod said to me, “Has your brother returned from Dubai?” - Reporting clause: Vinod said to me. - Question type: yes or no question introduced by an auxiliary verb has. - Time of reporting is in the past.

Concept / Approach:
To change a direct yes or no question into indirect speech, we usually: change said to to asked, introduce the reported clause with if or whether, change the verb structure from question order to statement order, and backshift the tense if needed. Here, has returned becomes had returned in reported speech because the reporting verb is in the past. The possessive your brother becomes my brother from the speaker's point of view. Therefore, the correct reported form is Vinod asked me if my brother had returned from Dubai.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace said to with an appropriate reporting verb for a question, usually asked. Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with if or whether, commonly if in conversation. Step 3: Change the question word order Has your brother returned into statement order your brother has returned. Step 4: Backshift the verb has returned to had returned because the reporting verb is in past tense. Step 5: Change your to my from the reporter's perspective. Step 6: Combine: Vinod asked me if my brother had returned from Dubai. Step 7: Match this with option B.

Verification / Alternative check:
Check each part carefully. The reporting verb asked correctly indicates a question. The connector if is suitable for a yes or no question. The clause my brother had returned from Dubai is in correct statement order and tense. The sentence as a whole is smooth and standard. This confirms that option B accurately represents the original direct speech in reported form.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Vinod said to me if my brother has returned from Dubai, fails to use asked and does not change the present perfect has returned to past perfect, which is required in reported speech. Option C, Vinod enquire to me, is grammatically incorrect because inquire or enquire should be used with asked or without to in this format. Option D, Vinod asks me whether my brother had returned from Dubai, incorrectly keeps the reporting verb in present tense while the reported action is clearly in the past, creating an inconsistent timeline for a standard exam question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes forget to backshift the tense or forget to change pronouns like your to my. Another common mistake is to leave the word order in question form inside the reported clause. Always remember that after if or whether in indirect speech, the clause should follow normal statement order: subject first, then verb. Practising several examples of reported questions will make this transformation much easier.

Final Answer:
Vinod asked me if my brother had returned from Dubai. is the correct indirect speech version.