Le prétérit et le present perfect

Exprimer des actions passées en anglais : deux temps, deux visions du temps (programme de 2nde LVA)

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Cette activité de compréhension sur « Le prétérit et le present perfect » en seconde entraîne à lire, analyser et répondre à des questions en anglais (LVA). Elle suit le programme officiel de seconde. Au programme : Le prétérit simple : formation, Le prétérit simple : emplois et marqueurs, Le prétérit be + -ing (past continuous), Le present perfect : formation. Lis le document, réponds puis vérifie immédiatement tes réponses pour progresser. Un bon moyen de travailler la méthode, d'enrichir son vocabulaire et de préparer les contrôles. Ressource gratuite proposée par un professeur particulier à Marseille pour réussir en anglais (LVA) en seconde.

1Lis ce texte extrait d'un article sur l'archéologue Howard Carter, puis réponds aux questions.

Howard Carter and the Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb

Howard Carter was a British archaeologist who spent many years working in Egypt. In 1922, after searching for nearly a decade, he made one of the most extraordinary discoveries in history: the tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Carter had worked in the Valley of the Kings since 1917. His sponsor, Lord Carnarvon, was growing impatient — he had already threatened to stop funding the excavations. However, on 4 November 1922, one of Carter's workers found a stone step. Carter immediately sent a telegram to Carnarvon: "At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact."

When they finally opened the tomb, Carter peered through a small hole and saw glittering treasures in the darkness. Carnarvon asked: "Can you see anything?" Carter famously replied: "Yes, wonderful things."

Since that day, the discovery has fascinated millions of people around the world. Tutankhamun has become the most famous pharaoh in history, even though he ruled Egypt for only about nine years.

2Questions

Q1 What had Howard Carter been doing in the Valley of the Kings before 1922?

Q2 Which verb tense is used in 'Carter had worked in the Valley of the Kings since 1917'? Why?

Q3 Find two examples of the simple past in the second paragraph and explain why this tense is used.

Q4 Why does the author use the present perfect in 'the discovery has fascinated millions of people'?

Q5 Translate into French: 'He had already threatened to stop funding the excavations.'

Q6 Based on the text, why is Tutankhamun famous today?

Voir le corrigé

He had been searching for / working in the Valley of the Kings since 1917 — Information directement dans le texte.
Réponse libre — exemple : The past perfect (had worked) is used here to show an action that started before another past event and connects to 'since 1917', indicating duration up to the moment of discovery.
Réponse libre — exemple : Examples: 'found a stone step', 'sent a telegram'. The simple past is used because these are precise, completed events in the narrative (4 November 1922).
Réponse libre — exemple : The present perfect is used because the effect (fascination) started in the past but continues up to the present day. The discovery still fascinates people now.
Réponse libre — exemple : Il avait déjà menacé d'arrêter de financer les fouilles. (Plus-que-parfait en anglais → 'had + p.p.', action antérieure à un autre moment du passé.)
Réponse libre — exemple : Tutankhamun is famous because Howard Carter discovered his intact tomb in 1922, revealing extraordinary treasures. Since then, the discovery has fascinated millions of people, making him the most well-known pharaoh despite his short reign.

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