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. Laquelle de ces phrases emploie correctement une phrase clivée pour mettre en relief le complément de temps ?
2. Laquelle de ces phrases illustre une inversion stylistique grammaticalement correcte introduite par 'Little' ?
3. Laquelle de ces phrases respecte l'ordre canonique des adverbes de manière, lieu et temps en anglais ?
4. Laquelle de ces phrases utilise correctement la construction 'what'-cleft pour thématiser le complément d'objet ?

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.