In the article below we are going to describe direct and indirect of present perfect continuous tense. You will learn how to convey a message what someone has said, felt and thought in present perfect continuous tense. Affirmative, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative structures along with examples.
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Direct and Indirect of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Tense Change:
As a rule, when we change a direct speech sentence into indirect we go one tense back, therefore when you change direct speech from present perfect continuous tense, you have to use past perfect continuous tense instead in reported speech.
Affirmatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + S + have/has + been + V1ing + ROTS
They said to me, “We have been waiting here for a long time.” - Indirect speech: RP + that + S + had + been + V1ing + ROTS
They told me that they had been waiting there for a long time.
Negatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + S + have/has + not + been + V1ing + ROTS
He said to me, “We haven’t been playing cricket lately.” - Indirect speech: RP, that + S + had + not + been + V1ing + ROTS
He told me that they hadn`t been playing cricket lately.
Interrogatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + Have/Has + S + been + V1in + ROTS
He asked, “Has she been learning English at Learn ESL academy lately?” - Indirect speech: RP + if + S + had + been + V1ing + ROTS
He asked me if she had been learning English at Learn ESL academy lately.
Negative interrogatives
- Direct speech: RP +, + Have/Has not + S + been + V1ing + ROTS
I asked him, “Haven’t you been working on this project lately?” - Indirect speech: RP + if + had not + been + V1ing + ROTS
I asked him if he hadn’t been working on that project lately.
HW/Information questions
- Direct speech: RP +, + WH + have/has + S + been + V1ing + ROTS
He asked, “Where has Jalali been teaching English since he got back to Pakistan from the USA?” - Indirect speech: RP + WH + S + had + been + V1ing + ROTS
He wanted to know where Jalali had been teaching English since he got back to Pakistan from the USA.
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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.