Fiche à imprimer : It's time, I'd rather, as if, if only : les tournures suivies du prétérit

Après certaines tournures, le prétérit ne parle pas du passé : il exprime quelque chose d'irréel ou de souhaité au présent. On l'appelle le prétérit modal.

Tournure	Sens	Exemple
It's (high) time + sujet + prétérit	il est (grand) temps que	It's time we left. (Il est temps que nous partions.)
I'd rather + sujet + prétérit	je préférerais que	I'd rather you stayed. (Je préférerais que tu restes.)
as if / as though + prétérit	comme si	He talks as if he knew everything.
if only + prétérit	si seulement (regret présent)	If only I had more time!
suppose / what if + prétérit	et si, imagine que	Suppose you won the lottery, what would you do?

À comparer

It's time to go (il est l'heure d'y aller, en général) ≠ It's time we went (il serait temps qu'on y aille, avec une idée de retard).

I'd rather stay (je préfère rester, moi) ≠ I'd rather you stayed (je préférerais que toi, tu restes).

Avec be, on peut utiliser were à toutes les personnes dans un style soigné : He acts as if he were the boss.

Pour un regret passé

If only I had listened! / I'd rather you hadn't told him.

Si seulement j'avais écouté ! / J'aurais préféré que tu ne le lui dises pas.

Mise en situation : une soirée qui s'éternise

Emma : It's almost midnight. It's time we went home.

Il est presque minuit. Il est temps qu'on rentre.

Theo : Already? I'd rather we stayed a bit longer.

Déjà ? Je préférerais qu'on reste encore un peu.

Emma : You're acting as if you didn't have school tomorrow!

Tu fais comme si tu n'avais pas cours demain !

Theo : If only it were Saturday! OK, let's go.

Si seulement on était samedi ! Bon, on y va.

À retenir

It's time + sujet + prétérit : It's time we left.
I'd rather + sujet + prétérit : I'd rather you stayed.
as if / if only / suppose + prétérit (irréel du présent).
Regret passé : if only + past perfect.

Exercice 1 : It's time, I'd rather, as if : exercice 1 (QCM)

It's late. It's time we ___ home.
1. will go
2. go
3. went
I'd rather you ___ smoke here.
1. don't
2. won't
3. didn't
He talks as if he ___ the boss.
1. were
2. is being
3. will be
If only I ___ taller!
1. am
2. were
3. will be
« Je préférerais que tu restes. »
1. I'd rather that you will stay.
2. I'd rather you stay to.
3. I'd rather you stayed.
« Il est grand temps que tu te lèves. »
1. It's high time for you get up.
2. It's high time you get up.
3. It's high time you got up.
« Je préfère rester à la maison. » (moi)
1. I'd rather stayed at home.
2. I'd rather stay at home.
3. I'd rather to stay at home.
Suppose you ___ the lottery. What would you do?
1. will win
2. won
3. win
« Si seulement j'avais écouté ! » (regret passé)
1. If only I had listened!
2. If only I listened yesterday!
3. If only I have listened!
She looks as though she ___ a ghost. (passé)
1. has seen
2. sees
3. had seen

Exercice 2 : It's time, I'd rather, as if : exercice 2 (à compléter)

It's time we .......................... . (leave)
I'd rather you .......................... with me. (come)
He acts as if he .......................... everything. (know)
If only I .......................... more money! (have)
It's high time you .......................... revising. (start)
I'd rather you .......................... tell anyone. (ne... pas)
Suppose you .......................... your passport. What would you do? (lose)
If only it .......................... the weekend! (be)
I'd rather .......................... here, thanks. (stay, moi)
If only I had .......................... to you! (listen, regret passé)

Exercice 3 : It's time, I'd rather, as if : mise en situation

Il est tard, tu dis à ton ami qu'il serait temps de partir.
1. It's time that we will leave.
2. It's time we left.
3. It's time we leave.
Tu préférerais que ta sœur ne prenne pas ton pull.
1. I'd rather you didn't take my jumper.
2. I'd rather you not take my jumper.
3. I'd rather you don't take my jumper.
Ton cousin parle comme s'il savait tout.
1. He talks as if he knew everything.
2. He talks as if he knows everything of.
3. He talks like if he knew everything.
Tu rêves d'avoir plus de temps libre.
1. If only I will have more free time!
2. If only I have more free time!
3. If only I had more free time!
Tu dis à ton frère qu'il est grand temps qu'il range sa chambre.
1. It's high time to you tidy your room.
2. It's high time you tidied your room.
3. It's high time you tidy your room.
On te propose de sortir, tu préfères rester.
1. I'd rather stayed in.
2. I'd rather to stay in.
3. I'd rather stay in.
Tu proposes une hypothèse : et si on ratait le train ?
1. Suppose we will miss the train?
2. Suppose we miss the train yesterday?
3. Suppose we missed the train?
Tu regrettes de ne pas avoir révisé.
1. If only I had revised!
2. If only I revised yesterday!
3. If only I have revised!
Tu préférerais que tes parents viennent au concert.
1. I'd rather that my parents will come.
2. I'd rather my parents came to the concert.
3. I'd rather my parents come to the concert.
Ton amie est pâle : on dirait qu'elle a vu un fantôme.
1. She looks as if she had seen a ghost.
2. She looks as if she sees a ghost of.
3. She looks like if she saw a ghost.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) went · 2. c) didn't · 3. a) were · 4. b) were · 5. c) I'd rather you stayed. · 6. c) It's high time you got up. · 7. b) I'd rather stay at home. · 8. b) won · 9. a) If only I had listened! · 10. c) had seen

Exercice 2

1. left · 2. came · 3. knew · 4. had · 5. started · 6. didn't · 7. lost · 8. were · 9. stay · 10. listened

Exercice 3

1. b) It's time we left. · 2. a) I'd rather you didn't take my jumper. · 3. a) He talks as if he knew everything. · 4. c) If only I had more free time! · 5. b) It's high time you tidied your room. · 6. c) I'd rather stay in. · 7. c) Suppose we missed the train? · 8. a) If only I had revised! · 9. b) I'd rather my parents came to the concert. · 10. a) She looks as if she had seen a ghost.