In the following direct to indirect speech question, change the sentence “She said to the shopkeeper, \\"My favourite colour is yellow.\\"” into correct indirect speech by selecting the most appropriate option.

Introduction / Context:
This question evaluates your understanding of reported speech when the original statement is a simple fact about preference. The direct sentence shows a woman telling a shopkeeper about her favourite colour. When reporting this later, you must choose the correct reporting verb form and decide whether to backshift the present tense “is” to “was.” The best option will reflect a past reporting context and standard grammar conventions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct speech: “She said to the shopkeeper, ‘My favourite colour is yellow.’”
• “Said to the shopkeeper” should normally change to “told the shopkeeper” in indirect speech.
• Because the reporting verb “said” is in the past, “is” in the reported clause usually backshifts to “was.”
• The pronoun “my” refers to “she,” so it becomes “her” in indirect speech.
• The core meaning that yellow is her favourite colour must be preserved.

Concept / Approach:
The main reported speech rules here are: “said to” becomes “told,” first person possessives are converted appropriately, and present simple often shifts to past simple after a past reporting verb. Some grammarians note that permanent truths can stay in the present, but examination patterns usually expect backshift in such indirect speech questions unless the sentence explicitly expresses an eternal fact. A personal preference like a favourite colour is not an eternal truth and is therefore normally backshifted to “was.”

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace “said to the shopkeeper” with “told the shopkeeper,” giving “She told the shopkeeper …” Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with “that,” resulting in “She told the shopkeeper that …” Step 3: Change “My favourite colour” to “her favourite colour,” because “my” refers to the speaker “she.” Step 4: Backshift the present tense “is” to “was,” giving “her favourite colour was yellow.” Step 5: Combine all the changes: “She told the shopkeeper that her favourite colour was yellow.” Step 6: Check the options and select option C as the correct sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Review the alternatives. Option B keeps “is yellow” instead of “was yellow,” which some may argue is acceptable because the preference may still be true, but examination style usually expects past backshift here. Options A and D use “informs” or “tells,” which are present tense and do not match the past “said” of the original. Therefore, they are incorrect in this test context. Option C alone reflects the past reporting verb, correct pronouns, and appropriate tense backshift, which confirms it as the best answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A uses “informs” (present tense), which does not correspond to the past context implied by “said.” Option B has the right reporting verb “told” but retains “is yellow,” failing to apply standard backshift rules. Option D uses “tells” (present tense), again conflicting with the past nature of the original speech event.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes keep the present tense in reported speech because they know the statement can still be true. While this can be correct in everyday usage, exam questions usually emphasise formal backshifting rules. Another pitfall is to overlook the change from “said to” to “told,” which is a very common requirement in such questions. To avoid errors, always check both the form of the reporting verb and the tense of the reported clause.

Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech form is “She told the shopkeeper that her favourite colour was yellow.”