le preterit simple

LE PRETERIT SIMPLE
1. VALEUR
. Qu'est-ce que le prétérit simple ?
Le prétérit simple est un temps relatant le passé repéré soit par un adverbe de temps
(yesterday), soit par une locution de temps (this morning), une date (in 1992) ou
encore une proposition entière (when you came last year = quand vous êtes venu(e)
l'an dernier). Il correspond bien souvent, en langue orale, à notre passé composé, notre
passé simple ayant quasiment disparu de nos conversations.
.
Pourquoi est-il appelé prétérit simple ?
Parce que la relation entre le verbe et le sujet est directe, sans recours à un auxiliaire
quelconque.
2. LE PRÉTÉRIT DE TO BE
. Il n'existe que deux mots pour le prétérit de to be : was et were. Voici leur distribution :
Forme affirmative
Forme interrogative Forme négative
I was
you were
he was
she was
it was
we were
you were
they were
was I ?
were you ?
was he ?
was she ?
was it ?
were we ?
were you ?
were they ?
I was not
you were not
he was not
she was not
it was not
we were not
you were not
they were not
(I wasn't)
(you weren't)
(he wasn't)
(she wasn't)
(it wasn't)
(we weren't)
(you weren't)
(they weren't)
. Nous retrouvons ces deux mêmes unités dans la structure there + be (il y + avoir) :
There was an accident at the crossroads.
There were road-works.
3. LE PRETERIT DES VERBES REGULIERS
Il y a eu un accident au carrefour.
Il y avait des travaux.
. Le prétérit des verbes autres que to be et to have se fait par l'adjonction du suffixe -ed quand
il s'agit d'un verbe régulier. Ce préfixe a 3 réalisations sonores selon l'environnement :
[d]
[t]
[id]
après un son vocalique ou une consonne sonore : played, showed, lived
après une consonne sourde : liked, helped, worked, etc.
après la dentale t ou d : started, waited, mended, etc.
The children played in the garden
this morning.
We milked the cows at 6 this morning.
We started at 8 yesterday.
Les enfants ont joué dans le jardin
ce matin.
Nous avons trait les vaches à 6h ce matin.
Nous avons commencé à 8 heures hier.
. Remarques orthographiques :
Lorsque la forme de base du verbe se termine déjà par un e, sa forme prétéritale se fait
par l'adjonction d'un simple d :
hire >>>> hired
like >>>> liked
live >>>> lived
stroke >>>> stroked
use >>>> used
graze >>>> grazed
Lorsque la forme de base du verbe se termine par la seule voyelle y, sa forme
prétéritale se fait en -ied :
carry >>>> carried
Lorsque la forme verbale du verbe se termine par une consonne précédée d'une seule
voyelle la consonne finale est doublée :
stop >>>> stopped
par contre :
rain >>>> rained
prefer >>>> preferred
repair >>>> repaired
4. LES TRANSFORMATIONS VERBALES DU PRETERIT
Dans les transfomations verbales au prétérit, did(n't) joue le même rôle que
do(n't)/does(n't) au présent simple.
Transformation interrogative :
(WH-) DID
?
Transformation négative : SUJET DIDN'T
Comparez :
SUJET VERBE (en forme de base)
VERBE (en forme de base)
Do you like coffee ?
Yes, I do.
Aimez-vous la café ?
Oui.
Do you like tea ?
No, I don't.
Aimez-vous le thé ?
Non.
Did you enjoy your visit ?
Yes, I did.
Avez-vous aimé votre visite ?
oui.
Did you like the concert ?
No, I didn't.
Avez-vous aimé le concert ?
Non.
What do you prefer ?
What did you prefer ?
Que préférez-vous ?
Qu'avez-vous préféré ?
Forme affirmative
Forme interrogative
négative
Forme interronégative
I worked
you worked
he worked
she worked
it worked
we worked
you worked
they worked
did I work ?
did you work ?
did he work ?
did she work ?
did it work ?
did we work ?
did you work ?
did they work ?
What did you do ?
What did you see ?
Where did you stop ?
I didn't work
you didn't work
he didn't work
she didn't work
it didn't work
we didn't work
you didn't work
they didn't work
Forme
didn't I work ?
didn't you work ?
didn't he work ?
didn't she work ?
didn't it work ?
didn't we work ?
didn't you work ?
didn't they work ?
Qu'avez-vous fait ?
Qu'avez-vous vu ?
Où vous êtes-vous arrêtés ?
5. LE PRETERIT DE TO HAVE
Notez que to have est toujours traité comme tous les autres verbes dans sa conjugaison
au prétérit.
Did you have a nice time ?
We didn't go to the museum.
Avez-vous passé un bon moment ?
Nous ne sommes pas allés au musée.
Forme affirmative
Forme interrogative
négative
Forme interronégative
I had
you had
he had
she had
it had
we had
you had
they had
did I have ?
did you have ?
did he have ?
did she have ?
did it have ?
did we have ?
did you have ?
did they have ?
6. LE PRETERIT DES VERBES IRREGULIERS
I didn't have
you didn't have
he didn't have
she didn't have
it didn't have
we didn't have
you didn't have
they didn't have
didn't I have ?
didn't you have ?
didn't he have ?
didn't she have ?
didn't it have ?
didn't we have ?
didn't you have ?
didn't they have ?
Forme
Il existe une série de verbes dont le prétérit n'est pas formé par l'adjonction de l'affixe ed et qui sont, pour cette raison, considérés comme irréguliers. Voici les formes
irrégulières de certains verbes que vous avez appris :
to be
to begin
to bring
to buy
to catch
to come
to dig
to do
to drink
to drive
to eat
to feel
to find
to fly
to get
to give
to go
to have
to know
to lay
to leave
to lend
to make
to pay
to put
to read
to run
to see
to sing
to sleep
to speak
to spend
to take
to teach
to think
to understand
to wear
to write
was, were
began
brought
bought
caught
came
dug
did
drank
drove
ate
felt
found
flew
got
gave
went
had
knew
laid
left
lent
made
paid
put
read
ran
saw
sang
slept
spoke
spent
took
taught
thought
understood
wore
wrote
être
commencer
apporter
acheter
attraper
venir
bêcher, creuser
faire
boire
conduire
manger
(res)sentir
trouver
voler
devenir, obtenir
donner
aller
avoir
savoir
poser
laisser, quitter
prêter
fabriquer
payer
mettre
lire
courir
voir
chanter
dormir
parler
passer, dépenser
prendre
enseigner
penser
comprendre
porter
écrire
7. AGO
. Ce petit mot qui sert à exprimer l'équivalent du français il y a une semaine, un mois, dix ans,
etc. a deux caractéristiques :
ago est toujours utilisé avec un prétérit.
ago est toujours placé après la mesure du temps.
. Double difficulté pour les francophones :
J'ai rencontré John
il y a une semaine.
I met
a week ago.
John
Première difficulté : J'ai rencontré (temps composé) / I met (temps simple)
Deuxième difficulté : Il y a une semaine / a week ago : ordre modifié
8. WHEN
Toutes les questions concernant le passé et commençant par when sont impérativement
au prétérit.
When did you sign the contract ?
When did your parents come ?
When did Charles get married ?
Quand avez-vous signé le contrat ?
Quand vos parents sont-ils venus ?
Quand Charles s'est-il marié ?
LE PRETERIT CONTINU
1. FORME
De même que le présent continu se construit à l'aide de be au présent suivi du verbe en
ing,
Ex :
I'm working.
He's studying.
They're reading.
Je travaille. (je suis en train de travailler)
Il étudie. (il est en train d'étudier)
Ils lisent. (ils sont en train de lire)
le prétérit continu se conjugue à l'aide de be au prétérit suivi du verbe en ing.
Ex :
travailler)
I was working.
He was studying.
They were reading.
Je travaillais. (j'étais en train de
Il étudiait. (il était en train d'étudier)
Ils lisaient. (ils étaient en train de lire)
. rappel du prétérit de TO BE
Forme affirmative
I was
Forme interrogative
was I ?
Forme négative
I was not
(I wasn't)
you were
he was
she was
it was
we were
you were
they were
were you ?
was he ?
was she ?
was it ?
were we ?
were you ?
were they ?
you were not
he was not
she was not
it was not
we were not
you were not
they were not
(you weren't)
(he wasn't)
(she wasn't)
(it wasn't)
(we weren't)
(you weren't)
(they weren't)
Forme interrogative
was I sleeping ?
were you sleeping ?
was he sleeping ?
was she sleeping ?
were we sleeping ?
were you sleeping ?
were they sleeping ?
Forme négative
I wasn't sleeping
you weren't sleeping
he wasn't sleeping
she wasn't sleeping
we weren't sleeping
you weren't sleeping
they weren't sleeping
. conjugaison
Forme affirmative
I was sleeping
you were sleeping
he was sleeping
she was sleeping
we were sleeping
you were sleeping
they were sleeping
2. VALEUR
Le prétérit continu correspond à l'imparfait de description du français.
At 5 o'clock yesterday, I was still working. Hier à 5 heures, je travaillais encore.
At half past seven, we were having dinner. A sept heures et demie, nous dînions.
La question la plus courante au prétérit continu est sans doute celle de l'inspecteur de police :
What were you doing yesterday at 10.30 ? Que faisiez-vous hier à 10h 30 ?
Deux actions simultanées peuvent également être envisagées sous leur aspect inachevé. Si les
sujets des actions considérés sont différents, ils sont produits tous les deux.
YESTERDAY
TODAY
____ I was reading a book_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
____ John was watching TV_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
I was reading a book while John was watching TV.
Je lisais un livre pendant que John regardait la télévision.
Si le sujet est commun aux deux actions considérées, il n'est pas répété après while.
YESTERDAY
TODAY
____ I was reading a book_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
____ I was smoking a cigar_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
I was reading a book while smoking a cigar.
Je lisais un livre en fumant un cigare.
PRETERIT SIMPLE/PRETERIT CONTINU
1. RAPPEL DES TABLEAUX DE CONJUGAISON
. preterit simple
Forme affirmative
I worked
you worked
he worked
she worked
it worked
we worked
you worked
they worked
Forme interrogative
did I work ?
did you work ?
did he work ?
did she work ?
did it work ?
did we work ?
did you work ?
did they work ?
Forme négative
I didn't work
you didn't work
he didn't work
she didn't work
it didn't work
we didn't work
you didn't work
they didn't work
Forme interronégative
didn't I work ?
didn't you work ?
didn't he work ?
didn't she work ?
didn't it work ?
didn't we work ?
didn't you work ?
didn't they work ?
Forme interrogative
was I sleeping ?
were you sleeping ?
Forme négative
I wasn't sleeping
you weren't sleeping
Forme interronégative
wasn't I sleeping ?
weren't
was he sleeping ?
was she sleeping ?
were we sleeping ?
were you sleeping ?
he wasn't sleeping
she wasn't sleeping
we weren't sleeping
you weren't sleeping
wasn't he sleeping ?
wasn't she sleeping ?
weren't we sleeping ?
weren't you sleeping
. preterit continu
Forme affirmative
I was sleeping
you were sleeping
you sleeping ?
he was sleeping
she was sleeping
we were sleeping
you were sleeping
?
they were sleeping
were they sleeping ? they weren't sleeping
weren't they sleeping ?
2. VALEURS
. preterit simple
Pourquoi est-il appelé prétérit simple ?
Parce que la relation entre le verbe et le sujet est directe, sans recours à un auxiliaire
quelconque.
Le prétérit simple est un temps relatant le passé repéré soit par un adverbe de temps
(yesterday), soit par une locution de temps (this morning), une date (in 1992) ou encore une
proposition entière (when you came last year = quand vous êtes venu(e) l'an dernier). Il
correspond bien souvent, en langue orale, à notre passé composé, notre passé simple ayant
quasiment disparu de nos conversations.
The children played in the garden
this morning.
We milked the cows at 6 this morning.
We started at 8 yesterday.
Les enfants ont joué dans le jardin
ce matin.
Nous avons trait les vaches à 6h ce matin.
Nous avons commencé à 8 heures hier.
. preterit continu
Le prétérit continu correspond à l'imparfait de description du français.
At 5 o'clock yesterday, I was still working. Hier à 5 heures, je travaillais encore.
At half past seven, we were having dinner. A sept heures et demie, nous dînions.
La question la plus courante au prétérit continu est sans doute celle de l'inspecteur de police :
What were you doing yesterday at 10.30 ? Que faisiez-vous hier à 10h 30 ?
Deux actions simultanées peuvent également être envisagées sous leur aspect inachevé. Si les
sujets des actions considérés sont différents, ils sont produits tous les deux.
YESTERDAY
TODAY
____ I was reading a book_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
____ John was watching TV_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
I was reading a book while John was watching TV.
Je lisais un livre pendant que John regardait la télévision.
Si le sujet est commun aux deux actions considérées, il n'est pas répété après while.
YESTERDAY
TODAY
____ I was reading a book_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
____ I was smoking a cigar_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _/_______________________
I was reading a book while smoking a cigar.
Je lisais un livre en fumant un cigare.
3. OPPOSITION PRETERIT SIMPLE/PRETERIT CONTINU
L'aspect inachevé peut être envisagé par rapport à un moment précis du passé :
Andy was sleeping when we arrived.
Andy était en train de dormir quand nous
sommes arrivés.
Barbara was waiting for Allistair
when I saw her yesterday.
Barbara attendait Allistair
quand je l'ai vue hier.
I was sleeping when John rang.
Je dormais lorsque John a appelé.
Rappelez-vous
1.
What was she doing when her husband arrived ?
Que faisait-elle quand son mari est arrivé ?
She was putting on her new dress.
Elle mettait sa nouvelle robe.
2.
What did she do when her husband arrived ?
Qu'a-t-elle fait quand son mari est arrivé ?
She put on her new dress.
Elle a mis sa nouvelle robe.