Menu

L'inversion conditionnelle : Had I known, Should you need, Were I you

CoursCours d'anglais

Dans un anglais soutenu (lettres, discours, essays), on peut supprimer if et inverser le sujet et l'auxiliaire. Trois auxiliaires permettent cette inversion.

Publicité
InversionÉquivalent avec ifSens
Should you need help, call me.If you need help, call me.Si jamais vous avez besoin d'aide...
Were I you, I would accept.If I were you, I would accept.Si j'étais toi / à ta place...
Were it not for your help, I would fail.If it weren't for your help, ...Sans ton aide...
Had I known, I would have come.If I had known, I would have come.Si j'avais su, je serais venu.
Had it not been for the rain, we would have won.If it hadn't been for the rain, ...Sans la pluie, nous aurions gagné.

Les points importants

La négation se place après le sujet, sans contraction : Had I not seen it (et non Hadn't I seen it).

Should en tête de phrase n'exprime pas le conseil, mais une éventualité (« si jamais », « au cas où ») : c'est très courant dans les courriers formels.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter.

Mise en situation : un regret entre amis

Lena : Had I known you were in hospital, I would have visited you!
Si j'avais su que tu étais à l'hôpital, je serais venue te voir !
Ben : Don't worry. Were it not for my brother, I wouldn't have told anyone.
Ne t'inquiète pas. Sans mon frère, je ne l'aurais dit à personne.
Lena : Well, should you need anything, just call me.
Bon, si jamais tu as besoin de quoi que ce soit, appelle-moi.
Ben : Thanks. Were I you, I wouldn't worry so much!
Merci. À ta place, je ne m'inquiéterais pas autant !

À retenir

  • Should + sujet + base = si jamais (Should you need help...).
  • Were + sujet = si + prétérit (Were I you...).
  • Had + sujet + p.p. = si + past perfect (Had I known...).
  • Négation après le sujet : Had I not..., Were it not for...

S'entraîner

Publicité