Question 1

How does present perfect change in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Present perfect (have/has + past participle) changes to past perfect (had + past participle) in reported speech. For example: "I have finished" becomes "she said she had finished". The auxiliary verb "have/has" shifts back to "had" while the past participle remains unchanged.

Question 2

What happens to time expressions like already, just, and yet in reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Time expressions like already, just, ever, never, yet, since, and for usually remain unchanged in reported speech. They maintain their position in the sentence. For example: "I have already eaten" becomes "she said she had already eaten" - the word "already" stays in the same position.

Question 3

How do I report present perfect continuous in indirect speech?

Accepted Answer

Present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing) changes to past perfect continuous (had been + -ing) in reported speech. For example: "I have been waiting" becomes "she said she had been waiting". Both the auxiliary and the continuous aspect shift to past perfect.

Question 4

Do pronouns change when converting present perfect to reported speech?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pronouns must change based on the reporting context. "I" typically becomes "he/she", "you" becomes "me/him/her", "my" becomes "his/her", etc. For example: "I have lost my keys" becomes "he said he had lost his keys". Both the verb tense AND pronouns must be adjusted.

Question 5

What is the difference between "He said he has done" and "He said he had done"?

Accepted Answer

While "he said he has done" is sometimes acceptable when the action is still relevant, "he said he had done" is the standard form in reported speech. The backshift to past perfect is required in formal writing and most contexts. Use past perfect (had done) as the default rule.

Reported Speech Present Perfect Exercises - Free Practice