Question

"He cannot say a word", she said. Reported speech: she said he _____ a word.

cannot

could not

couldn’t said

couldn't have said

Answer 1

Answer: couldn’t have said
Put this in the missing blanks
“She said he couldn’t have said a word” it makes more sense than the other answers. “He cannot say a word” is better said “he couldn’t have said a word”

Answer 2

She said he "cannot" say a word. In reported speech, this would become "She said he couldn't say a word." So the correct answer is "couldn't".