Fiche à imprimer : First, then, after that, finally : raconter une histoire dans l'ordre

Pour raconter une histoire ou une journée, on utilise des mots qui indiquent l'ordre des événements, et le prétérit.

Mot	Français	Exemple
First / First of all	d'abord	First, we visited the castle.
Then / Next	ensuite, puis	Then, we had lunch.
After that	après cela	After that, we went shopping.
Later	plus tard	Later, it started to rain.
Suddenly	soudain	Suddenly, we heard a noise.
Meanwhile	pendant ce temps	Meanwhile, Dad was cooking.
Finally / In the end	finalement, à la fin	In the end, we went home.

Pour commencer un récit

Once upon a time... (il était une fois, pour un conte), Last Saturday..., One day... (un jour), It was a sunny morning...

Les nuances

Finally = enfin, en dernier (dernière étape d'une liste ou après une longue attente). In the end = à la fin, finalement (le résultat). At the end of + nom = à la fin de : at the end of the film.

Last Saturday, I went to London. First, I visited the British Museum. Then, I had lunch in a park. After that, I took the bus to Big Ben. Suddenly, it started to rain! In the end, I went home tired but happy.

Samedi dernier, je suis allé à Londres. D'abord, j'ai visité le British Museum. Ensuite, j'ai déjeuné dans un parc. Après cela, j'ai pris le bus jusqu'à Big Ben. Soudain, il s'est mis à pleuvoir ! Finalement, je suis rentré fatigué mais content.

Mise en situation : raconter une sortie

Mum : So, how was the school trip?

Alors, comment s'est passée la sortie scolaire ?

Hugo : Great! First, we visited the zoo. Then, we had a picnic.

Super ! D'abord, on a visité le zoo. Ensuite, on a pique-niqué.

Mum : And after that?

Et après ?

Hugo : After that, we watched the penguins. Suddenly, one jumped into the water and splashed the teacher! In the end, we all laughed.

Après, on a regardé les manchots. Soudain, l'un d'eux a sauté dans l'eau et a éclaboussé la prof ! À la fin, on a tous ri.

À retenir

First, then, next, after that, later, suddenly, finally / in the end.
Récit au prétérit : we visited, we went, it started.
Once upon a time / One day / Last Saturday pour commencer.
in the end (finalement) ≠ at the end of + nom (à la fin de).

Exercice 1 : First, then, finally : exercice 1 (QCM)

« d'abord »
1. finally
2. first
3. then
« ensuite »
1. suddenly
2. first
3. then
« soudain »
1. later
2. suddenly
3. meanwhile
« finalement, à la fin » (le résultat)
1. at the end
2. at first
3. in the end
« à la fin du film »
1. finally of the film
2. at the end of the film
3. in the end of the film
« il était une fois »
1. one time ago
2. once upon a time
3. there was one time
« pendant ce temps »
1. suddenly
2. after that
3. meanwhile
« plus tard »
1. later
2. latter
3. after
Quel mot ouvre un récit ?
1. In the end
2. Finally
3. One day
« après cela »
1. afterwards that
2. after this of
3. after that

Exercice 2 : First, then, finally : exercice 2 (à compléter)

.......................... , we visited the castle. (d'abord)
.......................... , we had lunch. (ensuite)
After .......................... , we went to the beach. (après cela)
.......................... , it started to rain! (soudain)
In the .......................... , we went home. (finalement)
.......................... , we watched a film. (plus tard)
Once upon a .......................... , there was a princess.
.......................... , my dad was cooking. (pendant ce temps)
At the end .......................... the day, I was tired.
First, we .......................... to the zoo. (go)

Exercice 3 : First, then, finally : mise en situation

Tu commences le récit de ta journée.
1. First, I got up at seven.
2. Finally, I got up at seven.
3. In the end, I got up at seven.
Tu enchaînes : ensuite, tu as pris ton petit-déjeuner.
1. Then, I had breakfast.
2. Then, I have breakfast.
3. Suddenly, I had breakfast.
Tu racontes que soudain, la lumière s'est éteinte.
1. Suddenly, the lights go out.
2. Suddenly, the lights went out.
3. Finally, the lights went out suddenly.
Tu termines : finalement, vous êtes rentrés à la maison.
1. In the end of, we went home.
2. In the end, we went home.
3. At the end, we went home.
Tu commences un conte.
1. It was one time a dragon.
2. One time ago, there was a dragon.
3. Once upon a time, there was a dragon.
Tu dis qu'à la fin du film, tout le monde a pleuré.
1. Finally of the film, everyone cried.
2. At the end of the film, everyone cried.
3. In the end of the film, everyone cried.
Tu dis que pendant ce temps, ta mère faisait les courses.
1. Meanwhile, my mum was doing the shopping.
2. Meanwhile, my mum is doing the shopping.
3. Suddenly, my mum was doing the shopping.
Tu dis qu'après cela, vous êtes allés à la plage.
1. After this of, we went to the beach.
2. After that, we go to the beach.
3. After that, we went to the beach.
Tu dis que plus tard, il a commencé à pleuvoir.
1. Later, it started to rain.
2. Later, it starts to rain.
3. Latter, it started raining of.
Tu commences le récit de samedi dernier.
1. Saturday last, I went to London.
2. Last Saturday, I went to London.
3. The last Saturday, I go to London.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) first · 2. c) then · 3. b) suddenly · 4. c) in the end · 5. b) at the end of the film · 6. b) once upon a time · 7. c) meanwhile · 8. a) later · 9. c) One day · 10. c) after that

Exercice 2

1. First · 2. Then · 3. that · 4. Suddenly · 5. end · 6. Later · 7. time · 8. Meanwhile · 9. of · 10. went

Exercice 3

1. a) First, I got up at seven. · 2. a) Then, I had breakfast. · 3. b) Suddenly, the lights went out. · 4. b) In the end, we went home. · 5. c) Once upon a time, there was a dragon. · 6. b) At the end of the film, everyone cried. · 7. a) Meanwhile, my mum was doing the shopping. · 8. c) After that, we went to the beach. · 9. a) Later, it started to rain. · 10. b) Last Saturday, I went to London.