English grammar
Has said vs had said — present perfect vs past perfect
Tell apart what someone has said today from what they had said before, using has said and had said.
From the scene The actor has left!
In short
Use has + participle for news from today. Use had + participle for something before another past moment.
Your turn
Which one goes with before another past moment: had + participle?
Options: hadn't he signed a contract? · the other day he had said he loved the role · he has just said he can't carry on
Show answer
before another past moment: had + participle → the other day he had said he loved the role
How it works
Has said (present perfect) is for news from today or just now: he has just said he can't carry on.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
What do you mean, he's left? What (blank) he said?
Options: has · have · is
Show answer
What do you mean, he's left? What has he said?
¿Cómo que se ha marchado? ¿Qué ha dicho?
Good to know
Had said (past perfect) is for something said before another past moment: the other day, before he left, he had said he loved the role.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
But the other day he (blank) said that he loved the role.
Clue: before he left
Options: has · have · had
Show answer
But the other day he had said that he loved the role.
Pero el otro día había dicho que le encantaba el papel.
news from today: has + participle he has just said he can't carry on
Ramón
He has just said he can't carry on with the shoot.
Acaba de decir que no puede seguir con el rodaje.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) with the shoot.
Options: The other day he had said he loved the role · Hadn't he signed a contract · He has just said he can't carry on
Show answer
Ramón
He has just said he can't carry on with the shoot.
Acaba de decir que no puede seguir con el rodaje.
before another past moment: had + participle the other day he had said he loved the role
Your turn
What goes with the other day he had said he loved the role?
Options: before another past moment: had + participle · news from today: has + participle · question: hadn't he + participle?
Show answer
the other day he had said he loved the role → before another past moment: had + participle
question: hadn't he + participle? hadn't he signed a contract?
Nuria
And the contract? Hadn't he signed a contract?
¿Y el contrato? ¿No había firmado un contrato?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And the contract? (blank)?
Options: Hadn't he signed a contract · He has just said he can't carry on · The other day he had said he loved the role
Show answer
Nuria
And the contract? Hadn't he signed a contract?
¿Y el contrato? ¿No había firmado un contrato?
Common mistake
Not have or is here. News from today.
He has just said he can't carry on with the shoot.
Acaba de decir que no puede seguir con el rodaje.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| news from today: has + participle | he has just said he can't carry on |
|---|---|
| before another past moment: had + participle | the other day he had said he loved the role |
| question: hadn't he + participle? | hadn't he signed a contract? |
More lines from the story
- NuriaWhat do you mean, he's left? What has he said?¿Cómo que se ha marchado? ¿Qué ha dicho?
- ElenaBut the other day he had said that he loved the role.Pero el otro día había dicho que le encantaba el papel.
- RamónIt's over! The actor has left!¡Se acabó! ¡El actor se ha marchado!
- RamónThe director has said he's looking for someone local. With character... like me.El director ha dicho que busca a alguien del barrio. Con carácter... como yo.