How long...?/ Since when...?: les temps

Selon la plupart des élèves, il existe, en anglais, des réponses difficiles à donner...

Mais il existe aussi des questions difficiles à poser ! 

Nous allons essayer d'éclaircir cela ! Ce sont les questions sur le temps et la durée. Elles vous posent souvent de gros problèmes : à quel temps grammatical doit se mettre le verbe ?  

1) PENDANT COMBIEN DE TEMPS...? HOW LONG...?

Combien de temps es-tu resté...? / Pendant combien de temps restes-tu...?

/ Tu resteras absent combien de temps? 

Il convient toujours de regarder si l'action est "révolue" (passée), si elle se déroule encore ou si elle aura lieu dans l'avenir !  

Le temps en question est une durée. Alors, cherchez si elle est terminée, ou pas ! 

- How long did you stay...? / How long are you staying...? / How long will you remain absent? 

2) DEPUIS COMBIEN DE TEMPS...? HOW LONG...?

- Tu vis ici depuis combien de temps ?  Attention ! Présent simple en français, JAMAIS en anglais. Ce temps signifie que la personne est arrivée dans le passé et vit encore sur place.

Il nous faut un PRESENT PERFECT: How long have you lived here? 

- Depuis combien de temps vis-tu à l'étranger? En français, un présent simple, (JAMAIS en anglais). Tu vis à l'étranger en ce moment, et depuis un certain temps passé => PRESENT PERFECT qui insiste sur la durée (en -ing) : je voudrais

sans doute que tu reviennes... 

- How long have you been living abroad? Depuis quand vis-tu à l'étranger ? 

- Depuis combien de temps y vivais-tu? Imparfait en français. La phrase signifie que tu vivais à l'étranger, mais n'y vis plus. Tu es rentré en France ! Dans ce cas, en anglais, utiliser un PAST PERFECT. ( antériorité par rapport au passé simple).

How long had you be living abroad when you moved back to France? 

Là aussi, j'insiste sur la durée. Tu es resté bien trop longtemps... 

3) DEPUIS QUAND...? SINCE WHEN...? 

Cette question s'appliquant à la recherche du point de départ d'une action est beaucoup moins utilisée que 'How long...?' (qui interroge non pas sur le point de départ de l'action mais sur la durée de cette action.) 

- Since when has he had a dog? Since last Xmas, he got it for his birthday. 

Cependant, il existe un usage idiomatique : SINCE WHEN? exprime la surprise la désapprobation ou l'incrédulité. 

- Since when have you been interested in botany?

Depuis quand t'intéresses-tu à la botanique ? 

- Since when do I need your permission?

Depuis quand j'ai besoin de ta permission ? 

- Since when do you have the right to give me orders?

Depuis quand peux-tu me donner des ordres ?

Voilà ! En gardant à l'esprit que ce qui importe est le moment où une action passée a lieu et s'il s'agit d'une durée ou d'un début d'action, [Hmmm! Deux choses à la fois !  ] alors, le problème est simple !

Bonne concentration et courage ! Go for the test!  

Intermédiaire Tweeter Partager
Exercice d'anglais "How long...?/ Since when...?: les temps" créé par here4u avec le générateur de tests - créez votre propre test ! [Plus de cours et d'exercices de here4u]
Voir les statistiques de réussite de ce test d'anglais

Merci de vous connecter à votre compte pour sauvegarder votre résultat.

1. 'Since when have you been the boss here?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis quand es-tu le patron ici ?'


2. 'How long did he live in Australia?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Combien de temps a-t-il vécu en Australie?


3. 'Since when has he been interested in tennis and tennis players?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis quand s'intéresse-t-il au tennis et aux joueurs de tennis?


4. 'How long are you staying in New York?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
' Combien de temps restes-tu à New York ?'


5. 'How long had you known her?' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis combien de temps la connaissais-tu ? ' '


6. 'Since when do I need your permission to go out?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis quand j'ai besoin de ta permission pour sortir? '


7. 'How long have you been in hospital, now?' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis combien de temps es-tu à l'hôpital, maintenant ?'


8. How long have you been married? ' ''For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis combien de temps êtes vous mariés ? '


9. 'How long did you spend in the USA last year?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Combien de temps as-tu passé aux EU l'an dernier ?'


10. 'Since when did the Internet begin?' ' 'For two weeks, at least... I want to visit all the interesting sites.''Four months! From Xmas to Easter!''In the late 1960s in the USA.''Much too long! I hate their food and miss Mum's.''Our silver wedding is in six months!''Since I've been your father, young lady!''Since he held his first mini racket!''Since we were kids. I'm so sad she died!'For ten years. He left Sidney at the very beginning of the pandemic.'Since you showed you were incompetent!' Je ne sais pas
Depuis combien de temps l'Internet a-t-il commencé ?'