Fondamentaux
Qu'est-ce qu'un verbe de perception ?
Les verbes de perception (perception verbs) expriment ce que l'on perçoit par les cinq sens. Ils ont des constructions propres, en particulier le choix entre base verbale et V-ing après un complément, qui change subtilement le sens.
On distingue la perception involontaire (une sensation reçue : see, hear) et la perception volontaire (un acte d'attention : watch, look at, listen to).
Les cinq sens et leurs verbes
La vuesee, watch, look at, notice, observe L'ouïehear, listen to Le toucher, le ressentifeel, sense L'odoratsmell Le goûttaste
Verbes
Type de perception
Exemple
see, hear, feel
involontaire : la sensation nous parvient
I heard a noise.
watch, look at, listen to
volontaire : on dirige son attention
We listened to the speech.
notice, observe
remarquer, constater
She noticed a mistake.
sense
pressentir (sens figuré, soutenu)
He sensed a change in mood.
La vue
See, watch, look at
See, watch et look at décrivent la vue, avec des nuances. See : une perception passive, on voit sans le vouloir. Watch : une attention prolongée, souvent sur quelque chose qui bouge. Look at : un regard voulu, souvent sur quelque chose d'immobile.
See : involontaire
Sujet
+
see
+
objet
The auditors saw the CFO leave the meeting early.
We saw the share price collapse on the screen.
We saw the share price collapse on the screen.
Watch : attention prolongée
Sujet
+
watch
+
objet
Investors watched the price fall all session.
The board watched the presentation with growing concern.
The board watched the presentation with growing concern.
Look at : regard voulu
Sujet
+
look at
+
objet
Please look at the attached balance sheet.
Analysts looked at the quarterly report carefully.
Analysts looked at the quarterly report carefully.
Notice : remarquer
Sujet
+
notice
+
objet
She noticed a sudden drop in satisfaction scores.
Nobody noticed the discrepancy in the accounts.
Nobody noticed the discrepancy in the accounts.
Look at ou watch ? Look at this chart : regarder une image fixe. Watch the market react : observer une évolution en direct. On dit aussi watch TV, watch a film.
Piège classique : look at et listen to gardent leur préposition devant le complément, contrairement au français « regarder, écouter quelque chose » : Look at the report, et non Look the report.
L'ouïe
Hear, listen to
Hear et listen to suivent le même schéma que see et watch. Hear : un son nous parvient, que nous le voulions ou non. Listen to : une écoute volontaire, une attention dirigée.
Hear : involontaire
Sujet
+
hear
+
objet
The manager heard the employees discuss the layoffs.
I heard a rumour about the merger.
I heard a rumour about the merger.
Listen to : volontaire
Sujet
+
listen to
+
objet
The board listened to the CEO's presentation attentively.
Analysts listened to the earnings call in full.
Analysts listened to the earnings call in full.
Parallèle utile : see / watch fonctionne exactement comme hear / listen to : perception passive d'un côté, attention active de l'autre.
Construction clé
Verbe de perception + base verbale ou V-ing
C'est la construction la plus caractéristique, et la plus piégeuse. Après see, watch, hear, notice, feel + complément, on emploie soit la base verbale (sans to), soit le V-ing. Le choix change le sens.
Structure
Sens
Exemple
verbe + objet + base verbale
l'action est perçue en entier
I saw the CEO sign the contract.
verbe + objet + V-ing
l'action est perçue en cours, à un moment
I saw the CEO signing the contract.
Action complète
Sujet
+
saw / heard
+
objet
+
base verbale
We heard the minister announce his resignation.
I saw her leave the building at exactly 6 p.m.
I saw her leave the building at exactly 6 p.m.
Action en cours
Sujet
+
saw / heard
+
objet
+
V-ing
We heard protesters chanting outside.
The auditors caught the accountant falsifying the records.
The auditors caught the accountant falsifying the records.
Piège classique : I saw him cross the street : j'ai vu toute la traversée. I saw him crossing the street : je l'ai vu en train de traverser, sans forcément voir la fin. Et jamais de to à l'actif : I saw him to cross.
Même construction avec make et let : make / let + objet + base verbale. The word "artificial" makes the technology sound fake. (donne à la technologie un air factice) The board let her run the project. Au passif, to revient : They were made to wait.
Help : help + objet + base verbale ou to + base (la base est plus courante) : He spoke out to help voters understand the threat. Jamais de -ing : help voters understanding.
Have, « faire faire » : have + personne + base verbale : She had voters fill out postcards. (elle a fait remplir des cartes aux électeurs) Avec une chose, participe passé : She had the postcards printed. (elle a fait imprimer les cartes) Make + base ajoute une contrainte : They made us wait.
Make + complément + adjectif = « rendre » : sans to ni become : The drones are making life unbearable. (rendent la vie insupportable) This makes it harder to intercept them. Jamais make life to be unbearable. Ne pas confondre avec make + base verbale, « faire faire » : They made us wait.
Perception fine
Feel, notice, sense
Feel, notice et sense décrivent une perception physique, mais s'emploient très souvent au sens figuré pour une impression, une intuition ou un jugement.
Feel + objet + V-ing / base
Sujet
+
feel
+
objet
+
V-ing / base
Employees felt morale declining across the company.
She felt the building shake.
She felt the building shake.
Feel, sense + that
Sujet
+
feel / sense
+
that
+
proposition
The CFO sensed that the merger would fail.
We feel that the strategy needs revising.
We feel that the strategy needs revising.
Notice + objet + V-ing / base
Sujet
+
notice
+
objet
+
V-ing / base
Analysts noticed profits shrinking last quarter.
He noticed the shareholders whispering during the vote.
He noticed the shareholders whispering during the vote.
Notice + that
Sujet
+
notice
+
that
+
proposition
We noticed that costs had risen sharply.
Nobody noticed that the figures were wrong.
Nobody noticed that the figures were wrong.
Verbes d'état
Look, seem, sound, feel, taste, smell + adjectif
Employés comme verbes d'état (link verbs), look, sound, feel, taste, smell et seem sont suivis d'un adjectif, jamais d'un adverbe : ils relient le sujet à une qualité perçue, comme be.
Look + adjectif : apparence
Sujet
+
look
+
adjectif
The market looks unstable this week.
The quarterly results look promising.
The quarterly results look promising.
Sound + adjectif : impression
Sujet
+
sound
+
adjectif
The proposal sounds convincing.
This plan sounds risky.
This plan sounds risky.
Feel + adjectif : ressenti
Sujet
+
feel
+
adjectif
The negotiations feel tense this afternoon.
The team feels confident about the launch.
The team feels confident about the launch.
Seem + adjectif : impression générale
Sujet
+
seem
+
adjectif
The strategy seems risky in the current climate.
The forecast seems overly optimistic.
The forecast seems overly optimistic.
Tournure
Sens
Exemple
look good
bonne apparence, bon résultat
The new brand identity looks good.
look well
avoir bonne mine (santé)
After his illness, the CEO looks well again.
look like + nom
ressembler à
It looks like a good deal.
Adjectif, jamais adverbe : It smells good, it sounds strange, she looks happy. Seul well fait exception, car c'est aussi un adjectif (« en bonne santé »). Comparez : The team performed well (adverbe, verbe d'action) et The results look good (adjectif, verbe d'état).
Structure avancée
Les verbes de perception au passif
À l'actif, le verbe de perception est suivi d'un complément puis d'une base verbale, sans to. Au passif, to réapparaît obligatoirement. Un point souvent testé.
Voix active
Voix passive
Remarque
He saw them sign the deal.
They were seen to sign the deal.
to réapparaît au passif
She heard him say it.
He was heard to say it.
même chose avec hear
They made us wait.
We were made to wait.
même chose avec make
They saw him leaving.
He was seen leaving.
le V-ing ne change pas
À retenir : pas de to à l'actif (I saw him sign the contract), to obligatoire au passif (He was seen to sign the contract). La forme en -ing, elle, reste identique.
Pratique
Exercices
Exercice 1
Choisissez le bon verbe
01.
Investors (watched / heard) the share price plunge live on the trading screen.
→ watched (attention prolongée, image en mouvement)
02.
The manager (listened to / heard) the employees' complaints through the thin wall, without trying to.
→ heard (involontaire)
03.
Please (look at / see) the attached balance sheet before the meeting.
→ look at (regard voulu)
04.
The board (felt / looked) that the merger carried too much risk.
→ felt (feel that : impression)
05.
Analysts carefully (listened to / heard) the CEO's earnings call.
→ listened to (écoute volontaire)
06.
She (noticed / watched) a sudden drop in customer satisfaction scores.
→ noticed (remarquer)
Exercice 2
Base verbale ou V-ing ?
01.
I saw the negotiators (sign) the final agreement: I watched the whole thing.
→ sign (action vue en entier)
02.
We heard the protesters (chant) outside all afternoon.
→ chanting (action en cours, qui dure)
03.
The auditors caught the accountant (falsify) the records.
→ falsifying (surpris en train de)
04.
I saw her (leave) the building at exactly 6 p.m.
→ leave (action ponctuelle et complète)
05.
They felt the company's reputation (deteriorate) little by little.
→ deteriorating (évolution en cours)
06.
He noticed the shareholders (whisper) among themselves during the announcement.
→ whispering (action surprise en cours)
Exercice 3
Adjectif ou adverbe ? Actif ou passif ?
01.
The quarterly results look (good / well).
→ good (adjectif après un verbe d'état)
02.
After his illness, the CEO looks (good / well) again.
→ well (adjectif : en bonne santé)
03.
The proposal sounds (convincingly / convincing) to the board.
→ convincing (adjectif)
04.
He was seen (sign / to sign) the contract by two witnesses.
→ to sign (to au passif)
05.
The whistle-blower was heard (say / to say) that the accounts had been manipulated.
→ to say (to au passif)
06.
This negotiation feels (tense / tensely).
→ tense (adjectif)