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I am not sure about the use of present perfect in the subordinate clause. I want to say I've never understood Alice for as long as I've known her, so should I use the present perfect aspect in the subordinate clause or the past tense?
I have never understood a word that Alice has said.
or
I have never understood a word that Alice said.
To me, the first sentence sounds like I haven't understood what Alice has just said.
I should say:
I have never understood a word of what Alice has said.
meaning I never understood any of the words.
otherwise John might say: I never understood a word that Alice has said. and Paul might reply: Oh? What word was that?
Alternatively, if I no longer speak to her
I never understood a word of what Alice said.
1) I have never understood [unspecified past at this moment of speaking on the timeline] a word Alice has said [unspecified past at this moment of speaking on the timeline]: at this moment of speaking, on the timeline.
VERSUS: 2) I have never understood [unspecified past at this moment of speaking on the timeline] a word Alice said [simple present implies at a particular time].
in 2) at the time of speaking in the present, I have not understood what Alice said [at a specific moment in time]. She said something at some particular time (last week, in October, last year) and I still do not understand it today.
Both are correct, it all depends on what the speaker means: what Alice said [that time, yesterday etc.=a specific moment in time] versus in a past that it not specified at the time of speaking: Alice has said.I have never understood a word of what Alice has said. this will be the correct form of sentence.
