I said +Present Perfect

[ostap77]

"I said, he's been my friend for 38 years." Does the Present Perfect need to be backshifted to the Past Perfect?

 

[bhaisahab]

"I said, he's been my friend for 38 years." Does the Present Perfect need to be backshifted to the Past Perfect?

What is the context for this?

 

[ostap77]

[FONT=&quot]Ladies and gentlemen, I was backstage and the stage director, a lovely young woman, was telling me that she was the stage director, and I told her how well I take orders. (Laughter.) And Larry was speaking, and I said, you see that man? I said, he's been my friend for 38 years. And she looked at me like, that's not possible -- (laughter) -- not that I don't look that old, but that she wasn't born, I don’t think -- when she said it. (Laughter.)[/FONT]

 

[bhaisahab]

Ladies and gentlemen, I was backstage and the stage director, a lovely young woman, was telling me that she was the stage director, and I told her how well I take orders. (Laughter.) And Larry was speaking, and I said, you see that man? I said, he's been my friend for 38 years. And she looked at me like, that's not possible -- (laughter) -- not that I don't look that old, but that she wasn't born, I don’t think -- when she said it. (Laughter.)

In that context the present perfect is correct.

 

[ostap77]

Is it because he will know him in the future?

 

[bhaisahab]

Is it because he will know him in the future?

It's because he is there and he is still his friend.