Fiche à imprimer : Before leaving, without saying : préposition + verbe en -ing

En français, après « avant de », « sans », « au lieu de », on met l'infinitif. En anglais, après une préposition, le verbe prend toujours la forme -ing.

Français	Anglais	Exemple
avant de + infinitif	before + -ing	Wash your hands before eating.
après avoir / être + participe	after + -ing	After finishing my homework, I watched TV.
sans + infinitif	without + -ing	He left without saying goodbye.
au lieu de + infinitif	instead of + -ing	Instead of watching TV, read a book!
en + participe présent (manière)	by + -ing	You learn by practising.
merci de + infinitif	thank you for + -ing	Thank you for helping me.

Avec un adjectif + préposition

I'm good at drawing. She's interested in learning Chinese. I'm tired of waiting.

Je suis doué pour le dessin. Elle s'intéresse à l'apprentissage du chinois. J'en ai assez d'attendre.

Attention : to est parfois une préposition. On dit I look forward to seeing you (j'ai hâte de te voir), et non ~~to see~~.

Mise en situation : avant le départ en vacances

Dad : Before leaving, check that all the windows are closed.

Avant de partir, vérifie que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées.

Emma : Done! And after packing, I watered the plants.

C'est fait ! Et après avoir fait ma valise, j'ai arrosé les plantes.

Dad : Thank you for helping. Instead of taking the car, let's take the train.

Merci de m'aider. Au lieu de prendre la voiture, prenons le train.

Emma : Great! I'm really looking forward to seeing Grandma!

Super ! J'ai vraiment hâte de voir Mamie !

À retenir

Préposition + verbe en -ing : before eating, after leaving, without saying, instead of going.
by + -ing = en faisant (moyen) ; thank you for + -ing.
good at, interested in, tired of + -ing.
look forward to + -ing.

Exercice 1 : Préposition + -ing : exercice 1 (QCM)

Wash your hands before ___.
1. to eat
2. eat
3. eating
He left without ___ goodbye.
1. to say
2. say
3. saying
After ___ dinner, we went for a walk.
1. to have
2. have
3. having
Instead of ___ TV, read a book!
1. watch
2. to watch
3. watching
Thank you for ___ me.
1. help
2. helping
3. to help
I'm good at ___.
1. drawing
2. to draw
3. draw
I look forward to ___ you.
1. saw
2. see
3. seeing
You improve your English by ___ every day.
1. practising
2. practise
3. to practise
« Avant de partir, éteins la lumière. »
1. Before leave, turn off the light.
2. Before to leave, turn off the light.
3. Before leaving, turn off the light.
« Il est parti sans payer. »
1. He left without to pay.
2. He left without pay.
3. He left without paying.

Exercice 2 : Préposition + -ing : exercice 2 (à compléter)

Brush your teeth before .......................... to bed. (aller)
She went out without .......................... her umbrella. (prendre)
After .......................... my homework, I played football. (finir)
Instead of .......................... , do something! (te plaindre)
Thank you for .......................... ! (venir)
I'm good at .......................... . (nager)
We're looking forward to .......................... you. (rencontrer)
You can learn a lot by .......................... . (lire)
He's tired of .......................... so late. (travailler)
Are you interested in .......................... in a band? (jouer)

Exercice 3 : Préposition + -ing : mise en situation

Tu rappelles à ton frère de se laver les mains avant de manger.
1. Wash your hands before eating!
2. Wash your hands before eat!
3. Wash your hands before to eat!
Tu racontes que ton ami est parti sans dire au revoir.
1. He left without say goodbye.
2. He left without saying goodbye.
3. He left without to say goodbye.
Tu remercies ta voisine de t'avoir aidé.
1. Thank you for help me!
2. Thank you to help me!
3. Thank you for helping me!
Tu proposes de faire du vélo au lieu de regarder la télé.
1. Instead of watching TV, let's go cycling!
2. Instead to watch TV, let's go cycling!
3. Instead of watch TV, let's go cycling!
Tu écris à ton correspondant que tu as hâte de le voir.
1. I'm looking forward to seeing you!
2. I'm looking forward to see you!
3. I'm looking forward for seeing you!
Tu dis que tu es doué pour le dessin.
1. I'm good for draw.
2. I'm good to drawing.
3. I'm good at drawing.
Tu racontes qu'après avoir mangé, vous êtes allés au parc.
1. After to eat, we went to the park.
2. After eating, we went to the park.
3. After have eaten, we went to the park.
Tu expliques qu'on apprend en pratiquant.
1. You learn with practise.
2. You learn in practising.
3. You learn by practising.
Tu dis que tu en as assez d'attendre le bus.
1. I'm tired of waiting for the bus.
2. I'm tired to wait for the bus.
3. I'm tired of wait the bus.
Tu conseilles de lire les instructions avant de commencer.
1. Read the instructions before to start.
2. Read the instructions before starting.
3. Read the instructions before start.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) eating · 2. c) saying · 3. c) having · 4. c) watching · 5. b) helping · 6. a) drawing · 7. c) seeing · 8. a) practising · 9. c) Before leaving, turn off the light. · 10. c) He left without paying.

Exercice 2

1. going · 2. taking · 3. finishing · 4. complaining · 5. coming · 6. swimming · 7. meeting · 8. reading · 9. working · 10. playing

Exercice 3

1. a) Wash your hands before eating! · 2. b) He left without saying goodbye. · 3. c) Thank you for helping me! · 4. a) Instead of watching TV, let's go cycling! · 5. a) I'm looking forward to seeing you! · 6. c) I'm good at drawing. · 7. b) After eating, we went to the park. · 8. c) You learn by practising. · 9. a) I'm tired of waiting for the bus. · 10. b) Read the instructions before starting.