A sentence is provided in direct speech.

👍 Simple Explanation:

📌 Given (Direct Speech):

She said, “I was reading a novel at that time.”

🔄 Conversion Rules:

1. Pronoun Change

• I → she ✔️

2. Tense Change

• was reading (Past Continuous)
  ➡️ remains was reading ✔️
  👉 (No need to change because reporting verb “said” + time reference fits)

3. Time Change

• at that time → then ✔️

❌ Why others are wrong?

• had been reading ❌ → unnecessary tense change
• read ❌ → loses continuous meaning
• had read ❌ → changes meaning (completed action)

⚡ Easy Trick:

👉 Continuous tense → same tense रखो (mostly)
👉 “that time” → then

 Correct answer:

👉 She said she was reading a novel then.