The possibility of using perfect tenses in complex sentenses referring to the sphere of the past that play themselves the role of the direct object

Question

The usage of the present perfect tenses with the markers of past time has been noticed in as much as 20% of BE colloquial speech. But it is still difficult for the non-native speakers to discern correctly in what cases it can be relevant because this usage doesn't fall under conventional rules (i.e. Past Indefinite or Past Continuous with clauses or adverbials of past time).

The above said, could it be possible for the perfect tenses to be put on in the following patterns:

1. I just want to know how you have spent your parents' money when you studied at the university.
2. I just want to know how you have been spending your parents' money when you studied at the university.
3. Some time ago I wanted to know how he had spent his parents' money when he studied at the university.
4. Some time ago I wanted to know how he had been spending his parents' money when he studied at the university.
5. They asked me about something I have said years ago.
6. They asked me about something I have been saying years ago.
7. They asked me about something I had said years ago.
8. They asked me about something I had been saying years ago.

Answer 1

Look what you say about BrE is false. This is the "rule": the past perfect is used to point to something that precedes another action in the past. That preceding action can be stated in black and white or implied. That said, there are other issues with the sentences.

1. I just want to know how you have spent your parents' money when you studied at the university.

• how you spent your parents' money when you studied

The spending and studying is finished, over.

2. I just want to know how you have been spending your parents' money when you studied at the university.

No, not if you keep when you studied.

Yes, if you change it, like this: I just want to know how you have been spending your parents' money while you are studying, or have been studying at university.

3. and 4) are fine.

4. They asked me about something I have said years ago.

No, why? Because asked me is specific and finished, so:

^ They asked me about something I said years ago.

Also, ago always goes with simple past or a completed (continuous) past.

6. They asked me about something I have been saying years ago.

No, because they asked me is finished, so you cannot have been saying it years ago.

• They asked me about something I was saying years ago. OR
• They asked me about something I had been saying years before.

7. and 8) are correct because asked me is "preceded by" an action in the past perfect.

Basic rule: The present perfect and present prefect continuous are used in relation to the present time of speaking.

Basic rule: The past perfect and past perfect continuous are used in relation to the simple past tense or imperfect past tense.