We talked about direct and indirect of past progressive tense, in the lesson below I am going to elaborate direct and indirect of past perfect tense. You will learn how to convey a message of someone from past perfect tense. Affirmative, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative sentences along with examples.
For direct and indirect speech complete rules click: Direct and indirect speech complete rules
Direct and Indirect of Past Perfect Tense
Tense Change:
As a rule, whenever we change a sentence from quoted speech into reported speech, we go one tense back. But if we have past perfect tense in direct speech, we use the same tense in indirect speech.
Affirmatives
- Direct speech: RP, +, + S + had + V3 + ROTS
I said to him, “They had played cricket.” - Indirect speech: RP + that + S + had + V3 + ROTS
I told him that they had played cricket.
Negatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + S + had not + V3 + ROTS
He said to me, “We hadn’t played cricket.” - Indirect speech: RP + that + S + had not + V3 + ROTS
He told me that they hadn`t played cricket.
Interrogatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + had + S + V3 + ROTS
He asked, “Had you finished playing cricket before the rain started? - Indirect speech: RP + whether/if + S + had + V3 + ROTS
He asked me whether/if we had finished playing cricket before the rain started.
Negative interrogatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + had not + S + V3 + ROTS
He asked, “Hadn`t you finished playing cricket before the rain started?” - Indirect speech: RP + if + S + had not + V3 + ROTS
He asked me if we hadn’t finished playing cricket before the rain started.
WH/Information questions
- Direct speech: RP +, + WH + had + S + V3 + ROTS
She asked, “Who had you played cricket with before the rain stared?” - Indirect speech: RP + WH + had + S + V3 + ROTS
She wanted to know who I had played cricket with before the rain started.
Check out Direct and Indirect Speech Exercises With Answers
If you would like to know more about direct or quoted speech, or indirect or reported speech, check out more in the book below.