La confusion entre prétérit et present perfect est l'erreur n°1 des francophones. Cette fiche vous donne les règles claires, les marqueurs temporels, un tableau comparatif et 20 exercices corrigés. Imprimez-la et gardez-la sur votre bureau.
PRÉTÉRIT (Simple Past) :
Action terminée, à un moment précis du passé.
Marqueurs : yesterday, last week, ago, in 2020, when I was young
Forme : sujet + V-ed / V irrégulier (2ème colonne)
Ex : I visited London in 2020.
PRESENT PERFECT :
Action passée avec un lien au présent (résultat, expérience, continuité).
Marqueurs : already, yet, ever, never, just, since, for, recently
Forme : sujet + have/has + PP (3ème colonne)
Ex : I have visited London. (= j'y suis déjà allé, expérience)
Tableau comparatif
Prétérit (Simple Past)
Present Perfect
I saw him yesterday.
I have seen him already.
She lived in Paris for 3 years. (plus maintenant)
She has lived in Paris for 3 years. (encore maintenant)
Did you eat? (moment précis)
Have you eaten? (résultat maintenant)
I went to Japan in 2019.
I have been to Japan. (expérience de vie)
He lost his keys this morning.
He has lost his keys. (il ne les a toujours pas)
For vs Since
FOR (durée)
SINCE (point de départ)
for 5 years
since 2021
for 2 hours
since Monday
for a long time
since I was born
for ages
since last summer
20 Exercices : Prétérit ou Present Perfect ?
1. I ___ (see) that film last week. ✓ saw (last week = prétérit)
2. She ___ never ___ (visit) London. ✓ has never visited (never = PP)
3. We ___ (buy) this house in 2018. ✓ bought (in 2018 = prétérit)
4. ___ you ever ___ (eat) sushi? ✓ Have you ever eaten (ever = PP)
5. He ___ (leave) the office an hour ago. ✓ left (ago = prétérit)
6. I ___ already ___ (finish) my homework. ✓ have already finished (already = PP)
7. They ___ (not/come) to the party yesterday. ✓ didn't come (yesterday = prétérit)
8. She ___ (live) here since 2015. ✓ has lived (since = PP)
9. We ___ (meet) at university 10 years ago. ✓ met (ago = prétérit)
10. I ___ just ___ (receive) your email. ✓ have just received (just = PP)
11. ___ you ___ (go) to the concert last night? ✓ Did you go (last night = prétérit)
12. He ___ (work) here for 20 years. ✓ has worked (for + encore vrai = PP)
13. I ___ (not/see) her yet. ✓ haven't seen (yet = PP)
14. She ___ (study) in London when she was 20. ✓ studied (when she was 20 = prétérit)
15. ___ they ___ (arrive) yet? ✓ Have they arrived (yet = PP)
16. I ___ (read) 3 books this month. ✓ have read (this month pas fini = PP)
17. He ___ (break) his leg last winter. ✓ broke (last winter = prétérit)
18. We ___ (not/speak) to each other since the argument. ✓ haven't spoken (since = PP)
19. She ___ (be) to Italy many times. ✓ has been (expérience = PP)
20. They ___ (get) married in June 2023. ✓ got (in June 2023 = prétérit)
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