PRESENT SIMPLE / PRESENT BE + V-ING / PRETERIT

RÉVISIONS. - CORRIGÉ

QUESTIONS DE COURS.

1. Quant utilise-t-on le présent simple ? Pour énoncer une vérité/ fait générale, parler de ses habitudes,
décrire quelqu’un ou quelqu’un, parler du moment présent/ actuel, parler d’un évènement inscrit
dans un emplois du temps, pour narrer une histoire.

2. Comment se construit le présent simple ? (forme affirmative / interrogative / négative) : voir cours

3. Quand utilise-t-on le présent be + V-ing ? Pour parler d’un moment dans le présent qui n’est pas
encore achevé. On peut traduire par être en train de. Pour parler d’un évènement sûr de se produire
dans un avenir très proche.

4. Comment se construit le présent be + V-ing ? (forme affirmative / interrogative / négative) – voir

cours

5. Quand utilise-t-on le prétérit ? Pour parler d’un moment passé révolu. L’action s’est déroulée dans le
passé et est terminée.

6. Comment se construit le prétérit ? (forme affirmative / interrogative / négative) – voir cours

Exercice 1 – Corriger les erreurs en gras dans ces phrases.

1. Voters are angry because politicians keep not their promises. (to keep a promise: tenir une promesse)

Voters are angry because politicians don’t keep their promises.

2. Cutting off (= supprimer) benefits only cause more suffering.

Cutting off benefits only causes more suffering.

3. They are not always agree with each other.

They don’t always agree with each other.

4. He is owning an apartment in New York.

He owns an apartment in New York.

5. How long it takes him to get to his office everyday?

How long does it take him to get to his office everyday?

Exercice 2 – Procédez comme dans l’exemple pour rectifier les informations erronées.
Dans cet exercice, vous vous entraînez à écrire à la forme négative et affirmative au présent simple.

Exemple : You visit the UN (United Nations) headquarters (siege) in Washington. (New York City).
ð You don’t visit the UN headquarters in Washington. You visit the UN headquarters in New York City.

1. The US presidential elections occur every seven years. (every 4 years).

The US presidential elections don’t occur every seven years. The US presidential elections occurs every 4
years.

2. The Congress of the United States meets in the White House. (The Capitol).

The Congress of the United States doesn’t meet in the White House. The Congress of the United States meets
in the Capitol.

3. The British Prime Minister lives in Oxford Street. (Downing Street).

The British Prime Minister doesn’t live in Oxford Street. The British Prime Minister lives in Downing Street.

4. The European Parliament sits in Brussels. (Strasbourg).

The European Parliament doesn’t sit in Brussels. The European Parliament sits in Strasbourg.

Exercice 3 – Complétez les textes suivants en conjuguant les verbes entre parenthèses au bon présent :
présent simple ou présent Be + V-ing.

Texte A.

I turn up the lane that (to lead) to Long leaf, my family’s cotton plantation. I (to slow down) before Mother
(to see) how fast I (to drive). I ( to pull up) to the house and (to get out). Mother (to rock) on the front porch.

Kathryn Stockett, The Help, 2009.

I turn up the lane that leads to Long lead, my family’s cotton plantation. I slow down before Mother sees
how fast I am driving. I pull up to the house and get out. Mother is rocking on the front porch.

Text B.

Starbucks had enjoyed an employee-friendly public image for decades, but the image now (to begin) to lose
some of its luster. Every day, the company (to add) three hundred new hires to its workforce and every day,
the grumblings about the indignities of modern Starbucks baristadom ( = statut de barman ou serveuse) (to
grow) louder.

Starbucks had enjoyed an employee-friendly public image for decades, but the image now is beginning to
lose some its luster. Every day, the company adds three hundred new hires to its workforce and every day
the grumblings about the indignities of modern Starbucks baristadom grow louder.

Exercice 4 – Mettre les verbes en parenthèse au prétérit.

1. She (to teach) English a long time ago. Then she (to take) a new job.

She taught English a long time ago. Then she took a new job.

2. They (to wake up) very early and (to feel) washed out at the end of the day.

They woke up very early and felt washed out at the end of they day.

3. It (to begin) to rain and I (to get) drenched.

It began to rain and I got drenched.

4. Someone (to steal) my bag and then (to throw it away) into a trash can.
Someone stole my bag and then threw it away into a trash can.

5. The police finally ( to catch) Mexico’s most wanted criminal.

The police finally caught Mexico’s most wanted criminals.

Exercice 5 – Mettre les phrases à la forme négative puis rectifier l’information avec le mot entre
parenthèse.

Exemple : He ran the country for five years. (four years).

ð He didn’t run the country for five years. He ran the country for four years.

1. The apartment sold for $ 1million. (half a million)

The apartment didn’t sell for $ 1 million. The apartment sold for half a million.

2. The team lost two games in a row. (three)

The team didn’t lose two games in a row. The team lost three games in a row.

3. The Confederates fought against slavery. (to protect slavery).

The Confederates didn’t fight against slavery. The Confederates fought to protect slavery.

Exercice 6 – Conjuguez les verbes au bon temps: présent simple ou prétérit simple.

1. Macbeth (to hear) strange noises in the castle last night.

Macbeth heard strange noises in the castle last night.

2. The Loch Ness Monster (to live) in the depths of Loch Ness.

The Loch Ness Monster lives in the depths of Loch Ness.

3. Many people (to believe) in the existence of fairies in Scottish folklore.

Many people believe in the existence of fairies in Scottish folklore.

4. The Highland warriors (to defend) their land fiercely against invaders.

The Highland warriors defended their land fiercely against invaders.

5. The castle (to stand) on the hill for over 500 years.

The castle stood on the hill for over 500 years.

Exercice 7 – Voici des phrases conjuguées au présent simple et prétérit simple. Expliquez pourquoi on
utilise ces temps dans chaque phrase.

Exemple : The Loch Ness Monster lives in the depths of Loch Ness according to the legend.
ð On utilise du présent simple car on énonce une vérité générale.

1. In the 13th century, William Wallace led a rebellion against English rule.
ð On utilise du preterit simple car on parle d’un moment passé, révolu qui date du 13ième siècle.

2. The first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster occurred in the 6th century.
ð On utilise du preterit simple car on parle d’un moment passé, révolu qui date du 6ième siècle.

3. Legends of brave knights and noble quests capture the imagination of people.
ð On utilise du, present simple car on énonce une verité générale

4. I always read Scottish legends before bed.

ð On utilise du present simple car on parle d’une habitude.

5. My brother saw a Kelpie when he was 8 years old.

ð On utilise du preterit simple car on parle d’un moment passé, révolu qui s’est passé lorsque le frère
du narrateur avait 8 ans.

6. Kelpies are beautiful horses with sticky skin. They are malevolent.
ð On utilise du present simple car on décrit physiquement et la personnalité des Kelpies.