Exercices C2 : Les contraintes syntaxiques en anglais (corrigé)

Ces exercices vous permettent de pratiquer les contraintes syntaxiques avancées de l’anglais abordées dans le cours : ordre des mots, inversions stylistiques et phrases clivées, telles qu’on les rencontre chez Shakespeare ou Dickens.

→ Voir le cours : Les contraintes syntaxiques en anglais : cours complet

Exercice 1 : Complétez les inversions stylistiques

Chaque phrase contient une inversion stylistique caractéristique de l'anglais littéraire ou formel. Complétez le blanc avec la forme correcte du verbe ou de l'auxiliaire.

1. Never ___ I witnessed such utter disregard for the established order of society.
2. Scarcely ___ the clock struck midnight when the candles in the great hall began to flicker and die.
3. Not only ___ he refuse to answer the magistrate's questions, but he also denied ever having set foot in the house.
4. So profound ___ the silence that one could hear the frost settling on the windowpanes.

Correction

1. Never had I witnessed such utter disregard for the established order of society.
2. Scarcely had the clock struck midnight when the candles in the great hall began to flicker and die.
3. Not only did he refuse to answer the magistrate's questions, but he also denied ever having set foot in the house.
4. So profound was the silence that one could hear the frost settling on the windowpanes.

Exercice 2 : Corrigez les erreurs syntaxiques

Chaque phrase contient une erreur liée aux contraintes syntaxiques de l'anglais (ordre des mots, phrase clivée mal construite ou inversion incorrecte). Réécrivez chaque phrase correctement et entièrement.

1. It was the lawyer who he revealed the hidden clause to the assembled heirs.
2. Rarely he has shown such contempt for the conventions that governed his class.
3. What she gave to the orphan it was not charity but the cold comfort of her indifference.
4. No sooner the wretched man had confessed than the magistrate ordered him to be removed from the court.

Correction

1. It was the lawyer who revealed the hidden clause to the assembled heirs.
2. Rarely has he shown such contempt for the conventions that governed his class.
3. What she gave to the orphan was not charity but the cold comfort of her indifference.
4. No sooner had the wretched man confessed than the magistrate ordered him to be removed from the court.

Exercice 3 : Identifiez la construction syntaxique correcte

Choisissez la phrase dont la construction syntaxique est correcte parmi les quatre propositions. Justifiez votre choix en vous appuyant sur les règles étudiées dans le cours.

1. Which of these sentences correctly uses a cleft sentence to highlight the time adverbial?
   • It was at dawn that the soldiers discovered the deserted encampment.
   • It was at dawn when the soldiers discovered the deserted encampment.
   • It was at dawn which the soldiers discovered the deserted encampment.
   • It was at dawn the soldiers have discovered the deserted encampment.
2. Which of these sentences illustrates a grammatically correct stylistic inversion introduced by 'Little'?
   • Little he knew that his every movement was being observed by the silent figure in the doorway.
   • Little did he know that his every movement was being observed by the silent figure in the doorway.
   • Little he did know that his every movement was being observed by the silent figure in the doorway.
   • Little knew he that his every movement was being observed by the silent figure in the doorway.
3. Which of these sentences follows the canonical order of adverbs of manner, place and time in English?
   • She wept bitterly there in the churchyard at noon.
   • She wept at noon bitterly in the churchyard.
   • She wept bitterly in the churchyard at noon.
   • She bitterly wept in the churchyard at noon.
4. Which of these sentences correctly uses the 'what'-cleft construction to thematize the object?
   • What Dickens denounced it was the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering poor.
   • What Dickens denounced was the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering poor.
   • What did Dickens denounce was the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering poor.
   • What Dickens has denounced it was the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering poor.

Correction

1. It was at dawn that the soldiers discovered the deserted encampment.
2. Little did he know that his every movement was being observed by the silent figure in the doorway.
3. She wept bitterly in the churchyard at noon.
4. What Dickens denounced was the indifference of the wealthy towards the suffering poor.