Fiche à imprimer : Prétérit ou present perfect : comment choisir ?

« J'ai vu » peut se traduire par I saw ou par I have seen. Tout dépend du lien avec le présent.

	Prétérit	Present perfect (have + participe passé)
Emploi	action terminée, à un moment précis du passé	bilan au moment présent, expérience, action qui dure jusqu'à maintenant
Exemple	I saw this film last week.	I've seen this film (je le connais).
Mots repères	yesterday, last week, ago, in 2015, when...?	ever, never, already, yet, just, since, for, so far

La question « quand ? » appelle le prétérit

Have you ever been to London? — Yes, I have. I went there in 2022.

Es-tu déjà allé à Londres ? — Oui. J'y suis allé en 2022.

When did you arrive? (et non ~~When have you arrived?~~)

Quand es-tu arrivé ?

Depuis : present perfect + since / for

I've lived here for ten years / since 2015.

J'habite ici depuis dix ans / depuis 2015.

Attention : le français utilise le présent (« j'habite ici depuis... »), l'anglais le present perfect.

Already, yet, just

I've already finished. Have you finished yet? I've just arrived.

J'ai déjà fini. As-tu déjà fini ? Je viens d'arriver.

Mise en situation : au retour des vacances

Lucy : Hi Sam! Have you had a good holiday?

Salut Sam ! Tu as passé de bonnes vacances ?

Sam : Great, thanks! We went to Scotland. Have you ever been there?

Super, merci ! On est allés en Écosse. Tu y es déjà allée ?

Lucy : No, I've never been to Scotland. When did you come back?

Non, je ne suis jamais allée en Écosse. Quand êtes-vous rentrés ?

Sam : We came back yesterday. I've just unpacked my suitcase!

On est rentrés hier. Je viens de défaire ma valise !

À retenir

Moment passé précis (yesterday, ago, last, when) → prétérit.
Lien avec maintenant, expérience (ever, never) → present perfect.
Depuis : present perfect + for (durée) / since (point de départ).
already, just (milieu de phrase) ; yet (fin de phrase, question ou négation).

Exercice 1 : Prétérit ou present perfect : exercice 1 (QCM)

I ___ to London last year.
1. have gone
2. went
3. have been going
___ you ever ___ sushi?
1. Have / ate
2. Have / eaten
3. Did / eat
She ___ her keys, so she can't open the door.
1. has losed
2. loses
3. has lost
When ___ you ___ your homework?
1. did / finished
2. have / finished
3. did / finish
We ___ here since 2015.
1. lived
2. have lived
3. live
I ___ him two days ago.
1. have saw
2. have seen
3. saw
Have you finished yet? — No, I ___.
1. haven't
2. didn't
3. don't
Shakespeare ___ many plays.
1. has written
2. has wrote
3. wrote
I've just ___ a great film.
1. saw
2. seen
3. see
They ___ married in 2010.
1. have been get
2. got
3. have got

Exercice 2 : Prétérit ou present perfect : exercice 2 (à compléter)

I .......................... Rome in 2019. (visit)
She .......................... . She isn't hungry. (already / eat)
.......................... to Scotland? (you / ever / be)
We .......................... him since Monday. (not / see)
Yesterday, I .......................... my phone. (lose)
He .......................... . He's taking off his coat. (just / arrive)
They .......................... here for ten years. (live)
When .......................... this bike? (you / buy)
I .......................... a famous person. (never / meet)
Last summer we .......................... to Spain. (go)

Exercice 3 : Prétérit ou present perfect : mise en situation

Un ami te demande si tu connais Londres. Tu y es allé il y a deux ans.
1. Yes, I went there two years ago.
2. Yes, I have been there two years ago.
3. Yes, I go there two years ago.
Tu veux savoir si ton ami a déjà vu ce film.
1. Have you see this film?
2. Did you ever saw this film?
3. Have you seen this film?
Ton professeur demande tes devoirs. Tu les as oubliés à la maison.
1. I'm sorry, I've forgotten my homework.
2. I'm sorry, I forgotten my homework.
3. I'm sorry, I have forget my homework.
Tu racontes ton week-end.
1. On Saturday I play tennis and go to the cinema yesterday.
2. On Saturday I played tennis and went to the cinema.
3. On Saturday I have played tennis and have gone to the cinema.
Ta mère demande si tu as rangé ta chambre. Pas encore.
1. Not yet. I haven't tidied it yet.
2. Not yet. I didn't tidy it already.
3. Not yet. I haven't tidy it.
Tu expliques que tu apprends l'anglais depuis trois ans.
1. I learn English since three years.
2. I've been learning English for three years.
3. I'm learning English since three years.
Un touriste demande quand le musée a ouvert. C'était en 1990.
1. It has opened in 1990.
2. It opened in 1990.
3. It has opened since 1990 ago.
Tu annonces une bonne nouvelle : tu viens de réussir ton examen.
1. I just have passed my exam yesterday!
2. I've just passed my exam!
3. I've just pass my exam!
On te demande si tu as déjà mangé des escargots. Jamais.
1. No, I never have ate snails.
2. No, I've never eaten snails.
3. No, I didn't ever eat snails since.
Ton ami demande où tu étais hier soir.
1. I've been at home last night.
2. I am at home yesterday.
3. I was at home.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) went · 2. b) Have / eaten · 3. c) has lost · 4. c) did / finish · 5. b) have lived · 6. c) saw · 7. a) haven't · 8. c) wrote · 9. b) seen · 10. b) got

Exercice 2

1. visited · 2. has already eaten · 3. Have you ever been · 4. have not seen · 5. lost · 6. has just arrived · 7. have lived · 8. did you buy · 9. have never met · 10. went

Exercice 3

1. a) Yes, I went there two years ago. · 2. c) Have you seen this film? · 3. a) I'm sorry, I've forgotten my homework. · 4. b) On Saturday I played tennis and went to the cinema. · 5. a) Not yet. I haven't tidied it yet. · 6. b) I've been learning English for three years. · 7. b) It opened in 1990. · 8. b) I've just passed my exam! · 9. b) No, I've never eaten snails. · 10. c) I was at home.