1. Prétérit simple
• La conjugaison est la même pour toutes les personnes ! Facile.
• Pour les verbes irréguliers, seule la forme affirmative est différente. Il faut apprendre par cœur le prétérit de ces verbes.
| | (+) | (−) | (?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| sujet + BV + -ed | sujet + didn't + BV | did + sujet + BV | |
| Verbes réguliers | We visited London last year. | We didn't visit any museums. | Did you visit Buckingham Palace? |
| Verbes irréguliers | We went to London last year. | We didn't go to any museums. | Did you go to Buckingham Palace? |
2. Prétérit be + BV-ing
Formation : be au prétérit + BV-ing.
• Il permet de commenter des actions en cours dans le passé.
What were you doing at the time of the crime?
I was eating in the kitchen. I wasn't reading in my bedroom.
What were you doing at the time of the crime?
I was eating in the kitchen. I wasn't reading in my bedroom.
• Associé dans une phrase au prétérit simple, il indique qu'une action était en cours au moment où une autre s'est passée.
He was watching a film when he heard a shot.
She saw him in the bookshop while they were walking down the street.
He was watching a film when he heard a shot.
She saw him in the bookshop while they were walking down the street.
Le sais-tu ?
C'est l'auxiliaire did (prétérit de do) qui porte la marque du passé ; il est invariable. On utilise plus souvent la forme négative contractée didn't ← did + not.Pour les réponses brèves, c'est encore did qui fait tout.
Did Mary enjoy her trip? Yes, she did.
Did you book the same trip? No, I didn't.
Exercice n°1
Le prétérit simple et le prétérit progressif ont la même conjugaison à toutes les personnes.
Coche la bonne réponse.
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Seul le prétérit simple se conjugue de la même façon à toutes les personnes.
Exercice n°2
Mets le verbe donné au prétérit simple.
Écris les réponses dans les zones colorées.
A. Mary Higgins Clark an American author. (be)
B. She suspense and detective novels. (write)
C. She five children. (have)
D. Mary more than 100 million books. (sell)
E. She in 2020. (die)
Exercice n°3
Complète par be ou did à la bonne forme.
Écris les réponses dans les zones colorées.
A. you see Mr. Smith last night?
B. What he doing that evening?
C. he look annoyed?
D. You said you reading in the living room, is that right?
E. You see anything, then.
Exercice n°4
Prétérit simple ou en be + BV‑ing ? Choisis la bonne forme.
Sélectionne la (ou les) bonne(s) réponse(s) dans le texte.
en violet Prétérit simple ou en be + BV‑ing
A. Jimmy played / was playing outside while his parents cooked / were cooking inside.
B. What did you do / were you doing when it happened / was happening?
C. They read / were reading when she came / was coming in.
D. I slept / was sleeping when the thief broke / was breaking the window.
E. She drove / was driving back home when the storm hit / was hitting.
