Le subjonctif n'existe quasiment plus en anglais. On en trouve des restes dans certaines formules avec "if + to be", et dans certaines phrases fixes. (Dans bon nombre de cas, le subjonctif est remplacé par le modal "would", pour exprimer le conditionnel.)
> Avec "if + to be" : quoiqu'on
accepte aussi l'indicatif (langue familière), il est considéré
plus correct d'utiliser la forme "were" (au lieu de "was")
aux première et troisième personnes du pluriel :
If I were Muriel, I'd never
go back there. (Si j'étais Muriel, je n'y retournerais jamais.)
If she were alone, I'd stop by to see her.
(Si elle était seule, je passerais la voir.)
He acts as if he were crazy. (Il se démène
comme s'il était fou.)
> Dans tous les autres cas, la règle
est simple: il suffit d'utiliser le "subjonctif prétérit"
ou "prétérit modal":
If I had enough money, I would
buy a big house.
> Il existe également de nombreuses
phrases fixes et proverbes, qui utilisent le subjonctif présent
ou prétérit:
God help us! (Que Dieu nous
préserve !)
Long live the king! (Vive le roi !)
Would that I were free! (Si seulement
j'étais libre !)
TEST
Exprimer une condition en reliant logiquement un élément de la colonne A avec un élément de la colonne B.
Exemple: If she had time, she would visit you. Si elle avait le temps, elle te rendrait visite.
A a. She had time. b. John didn't know this beautiful girl. c. They spent too much time on the beach. d. Betty liked exotic food. e. There was enough snow. f. You travelled by bus. g. I had your address. |
B 1. She would visit you. 2. She wouldn't eat at McDonald's every day. 3. He wouldn't invite her out. 4. I would send you a postcard. 5. It would be cheaper. 6. They would get sunburnt. 7. You would go skiing. |
REPONSES
a1. If she had time, she would visit you.
b3. If John didn't know this beautiful girl, he wouldn't invite her out.
c6. If they spent too much time on the beach, they would get sunburnt.
d2. If Betty liked exotic food, she wouldn't eat at McDonald's every day.
e7. If there was enough snow, you would go skiing.
f5. If you travelled by bus, it would be cheaper.
g4. If I had your address, I would send you a postcard.