In the following question on reported speech, a sentence is given in direct speech: “The Principal said to us, \\"Today you will get your diplomas.\\"” Choose the option that correctly changes this sentence into indirect speech, following standard grammar rules.

Introduction / Context:
This is another version of the same reported speech question, again testing your ability to convert a direct statement into indirect speech. The direct sentence describes the Principal telling students that they will receive their diplomas “today.” When reporting this statement later, we must adjust tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. The options provided differ in subtle ways, and only one option fully respects the rules of reported speech.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct speech: “The Principal said to us, ‘Today you will get your diplomas.’”
• “Said to us” usually becomes “told us” in indirect speech.
• “Today” should ordinarily change to “that day” when reported at a later time.
• “You will get” must be changed to a future in the past form such as “we would be getting” or “we would get.”
• The indirect version must keep the sense that the diplomas were to be awarded on that very day.

Concept / Approach:
The essential grammar ideas are: choice of reporting verb, backshifting of tense, and transformation of time adverbs. Because the Principal is speaking to “us,” the pronoun “you” in direct speech refers to “us,” so it must change accordingly. In addition, “will” after a past reporting verb usually becomes “would,” and “today” becomes “that day.” Any option that fails to make these changes or that introduces awkward extra words does not represent standard indirect speech.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Change “said to us” to “told us,” giving “The Principal told us …” Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with “that,” producing “The Principal told us that …” Step 3: Replace “today” with “that day,” which is the usual transformation after a past reporting verb. Step 4: Modify “you will get your diplomas” to “we would be getting our diplomas,” aligning the pronoun “you” with “us” and backshifting “will” to “would.” Step 5: Combine all changes to get “The Principal told us that on that day we would be getting our diplomas.” Step 6: Match this sentence with the options and identify option A as the exact correct form.

Verification / Alternative check:
Review the incorrect options carefully. Option C uses “this day,” which is not the normal way to report “today” from a later vantage point. Options B and D add the word “this” after “told us,” which breaks the natural flow and creates clumsy structure. Option D also fails to backshift “will” to “would,” which is incorrect after a past reporting verb. Only option A satisfies all the conditions: correct reporting verb, correct time expression, correct pronoun, and correct tense.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B adds an unnecessary “this” and feels incomplete: “told us this on that day we would be getting our diplomas” does not read smoothly. Option C uses “this day” instead of “that day,” which is unidiomatic in standard reported speech. Option D both retains “will” (failing to backshift the tense) and misuses “this,” making the sentence grammatically unsound.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often focus only on changing the verbs and overlook time words like “today,” or they add extra words such as “this” because they appear in some reported speech structures. Another frequent mistake is to forget that “said to” normally becomes “told,” which takes an object. To avoid such issues, always check whether you have made changes in three areas: reporting verb, tense, and time reference. Working methodically will help you choose the best option even when alternatives look superficially similar.

Final Answer:
The correct reported speech form is “The Principal told us that on that day we would be getting our diplomas.”