Select the correct indirect speech for the following statement.
The old woman wished that he might live long

Correct option is A

The correct indirect speech for the statement is "The old woman wished that he may live long."

When changing direct speech to indirect speech:

1. Tense Usage for Wishes:

   • The verb "wished" in the main clause expresses a wish or hope.
   • In indirect speech, the word "may" can be used to retain the expression of a wish, replacing "might" from the original statement without altering the meaning.

2. No Change of Tense in Subordinate Clause:

   • When the main clause has a verb like wished, the subordinate clause (introduced by "that") often retains the modal verb "may" to indicate a wish or hope.

3. Person Consistency:

   • The pronoun "he" remains unchanged because it refers to the same person in both direct and indirect speech.

Grammatical Rule:
For sentences expressing wishes or blessings in indirect speech, use "may" or "might" in the subordinate clause without changing the tense of the modal verb.