Grammaire ~54 min du cœur restant

Rêver un peu

Après cette leçon, vous pouvez

Je peux parler de ce qui est irréel ou peu probable, et donner un conseil avec « à ta place ».

Commencer la leçon Cœur 54 min · étapes : 6 · facultatif : +2

Durée déclarée du cœur. Deux blocs du cœur n’affichent aucune durée, donc la leçon réelle est plus longue que cette somme.

Grammaire

15 min

En A2 #27, la condition était réelle : If it rains, I'll stay at home — la pluie est tout à fait possible. Mais souvent, on parle de ce qui n'existe pas : « si j'avais le temps », « si j'habitais au bord de la mer ». Pour cela, il y a la conditionnelle de type 2.

Forme : if + passé, dans la partie principale would + forme de base.

affirmation If I had more time, I'd learn Italian.
négation If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't get up at six.
question What would you do if you won the lottery?
réponse courte Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't.

'd est la contraction de would, la même que dans I'd like (A2 #17). On peut inverser les parties : I'd learn Italian if I had more time. La virgule n'est nécessaire que quand la partie avec if vient en premier. À la place de would, on trouve aussi could — « pourrait » : If I had a car, I could drive to work.

Ici, le passé ne veut pas dire « autrefois ». If I had more time parle d'aujourd'hui. La forme du passé éloigne l'événement de la réalité — comme dans le poli Could you…? (A2 #17). En français, c'est exactement pareil : « si j'avais le temps » est un imparfait, alors qu'on parle de maintenant. La règle française « si + imparfait, conditionnel » correspond donc presque mot pour mot à l'anglaise : if + passé, would + forme de base.

Quand on l'emploie.

Pour ce qui n'existe pas en ce moment : If I lived by the sea, I'd swim every day. Je n'habite pas au bord de la mer.

Pour un avenir peu probable ou imaginaire : What would you do if you won a million pounds? Gagner est presque impossible, donc — type 2.

Pour un conseil : If I were you, I'd… — voir plus bas.

Comparez le type 1 et le type 2. La différence n'est pas dans le « si », mais dans le degré de confiance de celui qui parle :

If I get the job, I'll move to Bristol. La chance est réelle : l'entretien s'est bien passé.
If I got the job, I'd move to Bristol. La chance est faible : je n'y crois presque pas.

La situation est la même, mais le choix du type dit comment vous la jugez.

were à toutes les personnes. Après if, be a une forme particulière — were, même avec I, he, she : If I were rich…, If she were here… À l'oral, on dit aussi souvent If I was rich — c'est correct aussi, simplement plus familier et moins soutenu.

Le conseil : If I were you, I'd… — « à ta place, je… ». Ici, les anglophones disent presque toujours were : If I were you, I'd talk to your manager. I wouldn't buy that car if I were you. Ce conseil est plus doux que You should… (A2 #11) : vous ne faites pas la leçon, vous vous mettez à la place de l'autre. Souvent, on omet la première partie : I'd talk to your manager — « à ta place » se comprend tout seul.

would sans if. La partie principale peut vivre seule, quand la condition se comprend par le contexte ou qu'il n'y en a pas du tout : It would be nice to have a garden. — « Ce serait bien d'avoir un jardin ». I'd never do that. — « Je ne ferais jamais ça ». Which city would you like to live in? C'est le même irréel, seulement le « si » n'est pas prononcé. C'est pourquoi on entend si souvent would dans les rêves, les jugements et les questions polies.

Encore des exemples :

If I knew her number, I'd call her. Si je connaissais son numéro, je l'appellerais.
If it wasn't so expensive, we'd go more often. Si ce n'était pas si cher, on irait plus souvent.
I'd be happier if I didn't live so far from work. Je serais plus heureux si je n'habitais pas si loin du travail.
Would you live abroad if you could? Tu vivrais à l'étranger, si tu pouvais ?

On ne dit pas ça. ✗ If I had more time, I will learn Italian → ✓ If I had more time, I'd learn Italian. Si la condition est irréelle, la partie principale l'est aussi : will ne va pas avec elle.

Testez-vous. Que signifie If I had a car, I'd drive to work : la personne a-t-elle une voiture ou non ? Comment dire « à ta place, je ne m'inquiéterais pas » ? La chance de gagner est presque nulle — comment terminer If I ___ (win), I ___ (buy) a house ?

afficher les réponses
pas de voiture — le passé après if parle de l'irréel ; If I were you, I wouldn't worry (ou I wouldn't worry if I were you) ; type 2 : If I won, I'd buy a house.
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Erreurs des francophones

adapté à votre langue
1

« À ta place » mot à mot

At your place, I'd talk to him s'entend comme « chez toi, je lui parlerais » : at your place veut dire « chez toi » (Let's meet at your place). Pour un conseil, la formule est ✓ If I were you, I'd talk to him.

2

If I was you

Ce n'est pas une faute : à l'oral, les anglophones le disent. Mais dans le conseil, la forme figée est ✓ If I were you, plus sûre à l'écrit. « Si j'étais » se calque naturellement en I was, et I were semble faux ; mieux vaut retenir were comme partie de la formule toute faite.

3

La question sans inversion

« Tu ferais quoi si tu gagnais au loto ? » → ✗ What you would do if you won the lottery? → ✓ What would you do if you won the lottery? À l'oral, le français garde souvent l'ordre sujet-verbe dans la question ; en anglais, would passe devant le sujet, comme do et will.

4

would + can

« Si j'avais une voiture, je pourrais aller au travail en voiture » → ✗ If I had a car, I would can drive to work → ✓ If I had a car, I could drive to work. « Pourrais » est un conditionnel, et le réflexe ajoute would. Mais can ne se met pas après un autre verbe modal : could porte à lui seul le sens de « pourrais ».

Prononciation

4 min

À l'affirmation, would se réduit à /d/ : I'd learn /aɪd ˈlɜːn/. À l'oreille, un seul son le distingue de I learn ; appuyez-vous donc sur if et sur le passé à côté : ils annoncent que would va suivre.

Le would complet — /wʊd/, il rime avec good, la lettre l ne se prononce pas. Il n'est complet et accentué que dans la réponse courte : Yes, I would. Dans la question et après un nom, sans accent, il est faible — /wəd/ : What would you do? /ˈwɒt wəd ju ˈduː/. wouldn't — /ˈwʊdnt/, sans voyelle entre /d/ et /n/.

were dans If I were you est inaccentué — /wə/ : /ɪf aɪ wə ˈjuː/. L'accent tombe sur you, et à la fin du conseil, la voix descend : il sonne ainsi amical et assuré.

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Texte

5 min

This week we asked our readers: what would you do if you didn't have to work for a year?

Megan, a nurse from Cardiff: "I'd learn Italian properly. I'd find a small flat in Bologna, and I wouldn't speak a word of English for twelve months. If I lived there, I'd go to the market every morning and cook real Italian food. It would be a big adventure."

Dev, a taxi driver from Leeds: "Honestly? I'd sleep for a week first. Then I'd walk round the whole coast of Wales. It's about 870 miles, so if I walked twenty miles a day, I could finish it in about six weeks."

Lucy, a student from Belfast: "I wouldn't travel — everybody says that. I'd make my own computer game. I already have the idea. If I had more time, I'd finish it in a few months."

One reader sent us a different question: "My job is boring, but it's safe. Should I leave?" Our advice: if we were you, we wouldn't leave without a plan. We'd start an evening course first. If you enjoyed it, you could change jobs next year.

Lecture à voix haute

Exercices

30 min

1. Phrases à trous.

  1. If I (have) more time, I (learn) to play the piano
  2. If she (live) closer, we (see) each other more often
  3. What you (do) if you (win) the lottery?
  4. If I (be) you, I (not / buy) that car
  5. I (go) to the party if I (not / have) to work
  6. If we (know) her address, we (send) her a card
  7. He (be) healthier if he (not / smoke)
  8. If I (can) speak German, I (apply) for that job in Berlin
Afficher les réponses
had / would learn; lived / would see; would / do / won; were / wouldn't buy; would go / didn't have; knew / would send; would be / didn't smoke; could / would apply

2. Choix.

  1. If it (rain) tomorrow, we (stay) at home. (c'est tout à fait possible)
  2. If I (live) in London, I (go) to the theatre every week. (je n'y habite pas)
  3. If you (hurry), you (catch) the bus. (on peut encore l'avoir)
  4. If I (have) a garden, I (grow) vegetables. (je n'ai pas de jardin)
  5. If she (call) tonight, I (tell) her the news. (elle appellera sans doute)
  6. If dogs (can) talk, they (tell) us a lot. (pure imagination)
Afficher les réponses
rains / will stay; lived / would go; hurry / will catch; had / would grow; calls / will tell; could / would tell

3. Chasse à l'erreur.

  1. If I would have more money, I would travel.
  2. If I have more time, I would learn Italian.
  3. On your place I would talk to the manager.
  4. If she knew the answer, she will tell us.
  5. What you would do if you won the lottery?
  6. If I were you, I would to call him.
Afficher les réponses
If I had more money, I would travel / If I had more money, I'd travel; If I had more time, I would learn Italian / If I had more time, I'd learn Italian / If I have more time, I will learn Italian; If I were you, I would talk to the manager / If I were you, I'd talk to the manager / If I was you, I would talk to the manager / If I was you, I'd talk to the manager; If she knew the answer, she would tell us / If she knew the answer, she'd tell us / If she knows the answer, she will tell us; What would you do if you won the lottery?; If I were you, I would call him / If I were you, I'd call him

4. Réécrivez en condition irréelle,

  1. I don't have a car, so I don't drive to work.
  2. She doesn't speak Spanish, so she can't work in Madrid.
  3. We live in the city, so we don't have a garden.
  4. I'm not rich, so I can't buy a house by the sea.
  5. He works at weekends, so he can't come to the match.
  6. I don't know her number, so I can't call her.
Afficher les réponses
If I had a car, I would drive to work / If I had a car, I'd drive to work / If I had a car, I could drive to work; If she spoke Spanish, she could work in Madrid; If we didn't live in the city, we would have a garden / If we didn't live in the city, we'd have a garden; If I were rich, I could buy a house by the sea / If I was rich, I could buy a house by the sea / If I were rich, I would buy a house by the sea / If I were rich, I'd buy a house by the sea / If I was rich, I'd buy a house by the sea; If he didn't work at weekends, he could come to the match / If he didn't work at weekends, he would come to the match / If he didn't work at weekends, he'd come to the match; If I knew her number, I could call her / If I knew her number, I would call her / If I knew her number, I'd call her

5. Développez l'indice en un conseil

  1. I'm always tired. (go to bed earlier)
  2. My laptop is very slow. (buy a new one)
  3. I've got toothache. (see a dentist)
  4. My flat is too expensive. (look for a cheaper one)
  5. I'm thinking of leaving my job. (not / leave without a new one)
Afficher les réponses
If I were you, I'd go to bed earlier / If I were you, I would go to bed earlier; If I were you, I'd buy a new one / If I were you, I would buy a new one; If I were you, I'd see a dentist / If I were you, I would see a dentist; If I were you, I'd look for a cheaper one / If I were you, I would look for a cheaper one; If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a new one / If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a new job

6. Répondez par des phrases complètes

— sur vous. Les réponses ci-dessous sont un modèle. 1) What would you do if you won a million pounds? 2) Where would you live if you could choose any city in the world? 3) What would you change in your life if you had more free time?

Afficher les réponses
I'd buy a house for my parents and travel round the world; I'd live in Lisbon — it's warm, and the food is great; I'd do more sport, and I'd read more

7. Traduisez en anglais.

1) Si j'avais plus de temps, j'apprendrais l'italien. 2) À ta place, je parlerais à ton chef. 3) Qu'est-ce que tu ferais si tu gagnais au loto ? 4) Si j'habitais au bord de la mer, je nagerais tous les jours. 5) Si je connaissais son adresse, je lui écrirais.

Afficher les réponses
If I had more time, I'd learn Italian / If I had more time, I would learn Italian; If I were you, I'd talk to your manager / If I were you, I'd talk to your boss; What would you do if you won the lottery?; If I lived by the sea, I'd swim every day / If I lived by the sea, I would swim every day; If I knew her address, I'd write to her / If I knew her address, I would write to her
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Bilan

Vu dans cette leçon

  • la conditionnelle de type 2 à toutes les formes
  • could à la place de would
  • le passé comme distance avec la réalité
  • le choix entre le type 1 et le type 2
  • were à toutes les personnes
  • le conseil avec If I were you

Ensuite, leçon 9 : le regret et le souhait.

Fin du cœur

La leçon est validée une fois les exercices terminés. Tout ce qui suit est facultatif.

Leçon 81

facultatif

Vocabulaire pour le paquet de cartes

15 mots
  • reader /ˈriːdə/ lecteur, lectrice
  • nurse /nɜːs/ infirmière, infirmier
  • properly /ˈprɒpəli/ correctement, comme il faut
  • market /ˈmɑːkɪt/ marché
  • adventure /ədˈventʃə/ aventure
  • honestly /ˈɒnɪstli/ franchement, honnêtement
  • mile /maɪl/ mile (1,6 km)
  • boring /ˈbɔːrɪŋ/ ennuyeux
  • safe /seɪf/ sûr, stable
  • advice /ədˈvaɪs/ conseil, conseils
  • evening course /ˈiːvnɪŋ kɔːs/ cours du soir
  • lottery /ˈlɒtəri/ loterie, loto
  • win /wɪn/ gagner
  • toothache /ˈtuːθeɪk/ mal de dents
  • apply for /əˈplaɪ fɔː/ postuler à, poser sa candidature à

Écriture

Cinq ou six phrases : ce que vous feriez si vous n'aviez pas besoin de travailler pendant un an, et un conseil à un ami avec If I were you.

Modèle

If I didn't have to work for a year, I'd travel round South America. I'd learn Spanish on the way, and I'd write a blog about the trip. If I had enough money, I'd also buy a good camera. My friend Tom wants to leave his job, but he hasn't found a new one yet. I said to him: "If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a plan."

Liste de vérification

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