Reported speech
Using the present and past perfect
Present Perfect Tense
This tense links the past with the past with the present
We form it using has/have + past participle
“I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill
NowPast
Bill started living in Cambodia when
he was born, and he still does today
Past Perfect Tense
When we talk about something someone has said, we change the tense since
it was said in the past. Here, the present perfect changes to the past perfect.
“I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill
When Bill said itPast Now
Past Perfect Tense
We form the past perfect using had + past participle.
Bill said he had lived in Cambodia his whole life.
“I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill
When Bill said itPast Now
Remember, our pronouns also
need to change because
someone else is talking about
Bill
Changing from the Past Simple
Just like the present perfect, the past simple changes to the past perfect.
Bill said he had lived in Cambodia until he was 12.
“I lived in Cambodia until I was 12” -Bill
When Bill said itPast Now
In this case the past tense
and past participle lived are
the same, but sometimes the
verb will have to change.
Further Examples
Direct Speech
“I have been to Spain,” he said.
She said, “my brother has beaten so many
games!”
“I lived in England,” she said.
“Ted ate a whole pizza,” he said.
Reported Speech
He said he had been to Spain.
She said her brother had beaten so many
games”
She said she had lived in England
He said Ted had eaten a whole pizza.

Reported speech past perfect

  • 1.
    Reported speech Using thepresent and past perfect
  • 2.
    Present Perfect Tense Thistense links the past with the past with the present We form it using has/have + past participle “I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill NowPast Bill started living in Cambodia when he was born, and he still does today
  • 3.
    Past Perfect Tense Whenwe talk about something someone has said, we change the tense since it was said in the past. Here, the present perfect changes to the past perfect. “I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill When Bill said itPast Now
  • 4.
    Past Perfect Tense Weform the past perfect using had + past participle. Bill said he had lived in Cambodia his whole life. “I’ve lived in Cambodia my whole life” -Bill When Bill said itPast Now Remember, our pronouns also need to change because someone else is talking about Bill
  • 5.
    Changing from thePast Simple Just like the present perfect, the past simple changes to the past perfect. Bill said he had lived in Cambodia until he was 12. “I lived in Cambodia until I was 12” -Bill When Bill said itPast Now In this case the past tense and past participle lived are the same, but sometimes the verb will have to change.
  • 6.
    Further Examples Direct Speech “Ihave been to Spain,” he said. She said, “my brother has beaten so many games!” “I lived in England,” she said. “Ted ate a whole pizza,” he said. Reported Speech He said he had been to Spain. She said her brother had beaten so many games” She said she had lived in England He said Ted had eaten a whole pizza.