Qu'est-ce que le backshifting?
Direct → Indirect = Changement de temps
Lors du passage au discours indirect
Exemple de base:
Direct: "I am happy"
Indirect: He said he was happy
Present → Past tense
Indirect: He said he was happy
Present → Past tense
Principe général:
Quand le verbe introducteur est au passé,
les temps changent vers le passé aussi
les temps changent vers le passé aussi
Règles de backshifting
Present → Past
Past → Past Perfect
Present Perfect → Past Perfect
Will → Would
Tableau de conversion:
• I am → he was
• I was → he had been
• I have → he had
• I will → he would
• I was → he had been
• I have → he had
• I will → he would
Cas particuliers
Quand NE PAS backshifter:
• Faits généraux: "Water boils at 100°C"
• Quand le verbe introducteur est au présent
• Quand c'est toujours vrai
• Dans les proverbes
• Quand le verbe introducteur est au présent
• Quand c'est toujours vrai
• Dans les proverbes
Vérifiez le verbe introducteur
Identifiez les faits universels
Regardez si c'est encore vrai
Considérez le contexte
Les verbes modaux changent aussi
Exemples de non-backshifting
Faits généraux:
He said water boils at 100°C
She knows the Earth is round
She knows the Earth is round
Vérités permanentes:
He says Paris is the capital of France
She told me 2+2=4
She told me 2+2=4
Verbes modaux & backshifting
Changements modaux:
• can → could
• may → might
• must → had to / would have to
• shall → should
• will → would
• may → might
• must → had to / would have to
• shall → should
• will → would
Exemples modaux:
• He can swim → He said he could swim
• She may come → She said she might come
• I will help → He said he would help
• She may come → She said she might come
• I will help → He said he would help
Exceptions modales:
• ought to → ought to (rarely changes)
• had better → had better (stays same)
• used to → used to (stays same)
• had better → had better (stays same)
• used to → used to (stays same)
Méthodes & Astuces
Identifiez le verbe introducteur
Vérifiez s'il est au passé
Appliquez les règles de conversion
Considérez le contexte
Pratiquez avec des dialogues
Erreurs fréquentes
Erreur 1:
• Backshifter quand ce n'est pas nécessaire
❌ He said the sun rose in the east
✅ He said the sun rises in the east
❌ He said the sun rose in the east
✅ He said the sun rises in the east
Erreur 2:
• Ne pas backshifter quand c'est nécessaire
❌ He said he am happy
✅ He said he was happy
❌ He said he am happy
✅ He said he was happy
Erreur 3:
• Erreur avec les modaux
❌ He said he can swim
✅ He said he could swim
❌ He said he can swim
✅ He said he could swim
Exemples complets
I am tired → He said he was tired
I was there → He said he had been there
I have finished → He said he had finished
I will come → He said he would come
I can help → He said he could help
Conseils pour réussir
Étapes à suivre:
1. Trouvez le verbe introducteur
2. Vérifiez s'il est au passé
3. Appliquez la règle de backshifting
4. Vérifiez s'il y a des exceptions
5. Reformulez la phrase complète
2. Vérifiez s'il est au passé
3. Appliquez la règle de backshifting
4. Vérifiez s'il y a des exceptions
5. Reformulez la phrase complète
Mémo visuel:
"Un pas en arrière dans le temps"
Chaque temps recule d'un cran si le verbe introducteur est au passé
Chaque temps recule d'un cran si le verbe introducteur est au passé
