MINISTRE DE LDUCATION NATIONALE

MINISTRE DE LENSEIGNEMENT SUPRIEUR ET DE LA RECHERCHE

Chapeau

Institut de Vanves

MATIERE : Anglais
MISE EN LIGNE : 2011
AUTEUR : Marie CLAUDEL

RUBRIQUE : Le groupe verbal

How to express the conditional

(present or past)

SOMMAIRE :

1. Conditionnel prsent et pass

2. Exercices
3. Correction

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p. 2
p. 3
p. 4

Pour exprimer lide de conditionnel, on emploie le plus souvent, lauxiliaire modal

WOULD .
Would est le prtrit modal de will (ainsi appel car ce prtrit marque une
rupture avec le rel).

Would (d) + base verbale

Traduit le conditionnel prsent franais: (je serais, tu serais, il serait, nous serions,
vous seriez, ils seraient).
Il semploie lorsquon imagine une situation (ou une action) prsente ou future :
It would be great to go on holiday but we cannot afford it : Ce serait super de partir en vacances
mais nous ne pouvons nous le permettre.
Most people wouldnt believe you: La plupart des gens ne vous croiraient pas.

Would (d) + base verbale au pass (have + participe pass)

Traduit le conditionnel pass franais: auxiliaire avoir ou tre au conditionnel + participe
pass).
Il semploie lorsquon imagine une situation ou une action passe :
I would never have guessed: je naurais jamais devin.
I dont know what I would have done without her: je ne sais pas ce que jaurais fait sans elle.
It would have been too boring: cela aurait t trop ennuyeux.

Rappels:
A la forme interrogative: would + sujet + base verbale est une formule de politesse.
Would you like a cup of tea?
Would you mind opening the window?

Would like / Would love / Would prefer sont suivis de to + base verbale (jamais du
grondif):
I would love to go to Spain!

Would rather + base verbale signifie la mme chose que would prefer to + bv.
My mother would prefer to watch the film but my father would rather watch the football match
on TV tonight.

Ready for the exercises?

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Exercises
1. Complete the sentences using the conditional + one of the following verbs.
Be / stop / enjoy / like / phone
a. You should go and see that film; you it.
b. Why dont you go and see Mary? She so glad to see you.
c. I was in a hurry when I met you yesterday. Otherwise I to have a little chat.
d. I you but I didnt have your phone number.
e. Its a pity, he was ill last night. He the party.

2. Write sentences using Id prefer or Id rather + one of the following

sentences.
Listen to some music / stay a bit longer / walk home / have coffee / sunbathe
a. Shall we take the bus?

(prefer)

b. What about going to the cinema?

(rather)

c. Would you like to have a cup of tea?

(prefer)

d. Lets play tennis

(rather)

e. Shall we leave now?

(rather)

3. Complete with the following verbs in the right form.

a. Tom hasnt phoned yet.

And yet he said that he (phone).

b. They are not waiting for us.

But they promised they (wait).

c. He hasnt sent a postcard.

But he promised he (send one).

d. Ill come to the party.

He said that he (come).

e. John doesnt work at school.

But he promised he (work harder).

4. Translate.
a. Si javais eu plus dargent:
b. Jaurais pu profiter de mes vacances
(enjoy):
c. Jaurais mang dans de bons
restaurants :
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d. Jaurais sjourn dans de beaux

htels :
e. Et jaurais pu sortir tous les soirs :

Good luck from Mrs Claudel

Correction
1. Complete the sentences using the conditional + one of the following
verbs: Be / stop / enjoy / like / phone
a. You should go and see that film; you would enjoy it.
b. Why dont you go and see Mary? She would be so glad to see you.
c. I was in a hurry when I met you yesterday. Otherwise I would have stopped to have a little
chat.
d. I would have phoned you but I didnt have your phone number.
e. Its a pity, he was ill last night. He would have enjoyed the party.

2. Write sentences using Id prefer or Id rather + one of the following

sentences.
Listen to some music / stay a bit longer / walk home / have coffee / sunbathe
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Shall we take the bus?

What about going to the cinema?
Would you like to have a cup of tea?
Lets play tennis
Shall we leave now?

(prefer) Id prefer to walk home.

(rather) Id rather listen to some music.
(prefer) Id prefer to have coffee.
(rather) Id rather sunbathe.
(rather) Id rather stay a bit longer.

3. Complete with the following verbs in the right form.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Tom hasnt phoned yet.

They are not waiting for us.
He hasnt sent a postcard.
Ill come to the party.
John doesnt work at school.

And yet he said that he would phone (phone).

But they promised they would wait (wait).
But he promised he would send one (send one).
He said that he would come (come).
But he promised he would work harder (work
harder).

4. Translate.
a. Si javais eu plus dargent:
b. Jaurais pu profiter de mes vacances
(enjoy):
c. Jaurais mang dans de bons
restaurants :
d. Jaurais sjourn dans de beaux htels:
e. Et jaurais pu sortir tous les soirs :

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If I had had more money,

I would have enjoyed my holiday.
I would haven eaten in good restaurants.
I would have stayed in nice hotels.
And I would have been able to go out every
evening.