said vs had said

Both 'said' and 'had said' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Said' is the simple past tense and is used for general statements or actions in the past. 'Had said' is the past perfect tense and is used when referring to an action that occurred before another action in the past.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 532 views

The word 'said' is the simple past tense of the verb 'say' and is commonly used in English.

"said"

Use 'said' when referring to a statement or action that occurred in the past without specifying a time frame or sequence of events.

Examples:

She said she would come to the party.
He said he was tired.

Show examples from the web [+]

Natalie said you wouldn't mind.
Bill Buchanan said they had a setback.
He said Laing and his friends.
They said I was too offbeat-looking.
But Massimo said you announced your engagement.
Zelda said Julian's conflicted about something.
Lucas said something really unsettling today.
What he said about me being heartless.
The owner said it's still usable.
Davis said he checked sub-level B.
You said that was an Egyptian symbol.
That's what General O'Neill said.
You said he used his pre-ascended DNA.
The corporal said everything must shine.
Pedrosa said some patriots had informed on you.
Our inspector said her flight was late.
OSI said they were sending a liaison.
They said Shaw fired at one...
My mom said he dishonored the family.
The principal said she started crying.

Alternatives:

mentioned
stated
uttered
expressed
articulated

'Had said' is the past perfect tense of the verb 'say' and is used to indicate that an action occurred before another action in the past.

"had said"

Use 'had said' when you need to show that the act of saying something happened before another event in the past.

Examples:

She had said she would come to the party before she got sick.
He had said he was tired when he decided to go home.

Show examples from the web [+]

John had said he wanted to make sure she was looked after.
J.D.: And then Ted remembered what the Janitor had said about confidence.
I only wish Farrell had said something at the time.
Imagine if Martin Luther King had said, I have a dream.
If only had said it, this never would have happened.
Maybe if you had said something earlier...
I wish you had said it sooner.
If only I had said yesterday.
The animal repeated everything he had said before.
The victim had said that she was willing to drop the charges.
The problem was that great Anna had said no.
He remembered his father had said:
Mimi had said by the fountain.
"He'll interest you," our friend had said.
I couldn't forget what my cousin had said.
'This place is very addictive,' he had said.
Previously he had said that the Pact was dead.
Honey, she told me what Kelsey had said.
I wish somebody had said something.
Officer Cudd denied knowing Hartsfield or her father as Andrea had said.

Alternatives:

had mentioned
had stated
had uttered
had expressed
had articulated

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said vs had said

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"had said"

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