The Use of Subjunctive II after “It’s Time”
L
ook.
This is a picture of my friend. It is high time he stopped
playing computer games. And it is high time he gave
up
smoking. It is time he went
for
a walk.
Present Subjunctive II is used after the emphatic constructions ‘it’s (high)time’, ‘it is about time’ to express impatience about the things that haven’t happened yet.
It is (high) time smb did smth |
Don’t use Past Subjunctive II.
E.g.:
It’s time you went
to bed. It’s
time you had
gone
to bed.
‘It is time’ can be followed by the infinitive but with a difference in meaning:
It is time to do smth = the correct time has arrived
E.g.: It’s 9 o’clock. It’s time for you to go to bed.
It is time smb did smth = it is a little bit late to do smth
E.g.: It’s 12 o’clock. It’s time you went to bed.
Exercise 1 Your friend has some health problems. Make meaningful sentences to give him advice.
I t's time you ... (cut down on) fizzy drinks.
It's about time you ... (to stop) worrying.
You have some problems with your stomach.
It's high time you .. (to stop) eating fast food.
It time you ... (eat) more vegetables and fruit.
It's about time you(to take) regular exercises.
It's time you (to stop) using sleeping pills.
It's time you…
It’s about time you
It's high time you
If you want to be healthy and strong, it's
high time you .... (to pay) more attention to
your health.
Exercise 2 Paraphrase using the emphatic phrase ‘It’s time’.
The concert is in a month. It’s time for them to start rehearsing. – The concert is in three days. It’s high time ........................
Our next exam is in five days. It’s time for us to start preparing. – Our next exam is tomorrow. It’s high time .......................
It’s 11 p.m. It’s time for me to have some sleep. – It’s 3 a.m.
This year we have to write a course paper. It’s time for us to get started. The deadline is in a month. It’s about time .............
My guests are coming in an hour. It’s time for me put the meat in the oven. – My guests are coming in half an hour. It’s time ...
It’s 10 p.m. It time for her to come home. It’s 1 a.m. It’s time ...
They have graduated from university. It’s time for them to find a job. – They graduated from university two years ago. It’s ...
He’s 30. It’s time for him to get married. – He’s 40. It’s time ...
Exercise 3 Translate the statements.
1. Ти виглядаєш дуже втомленим. Пора вже тобі відпочити. 2. У Пітера температура вже тиждень. Пора б йому проконсультуватися з лікарем. 3. У Кейт зубний біль вже кілька днів. Пора вже їй вирвати її хворий зуб. 4. У Джейн знову синяк під оком. Пора б вже їй розійтися з її хлопцем. 5. Пора б вже йому ставитися до своєї хвороби серйозніше. Я думаю, що у нього можуть бути ускладнення. 6. Пора б уже Джеймсу кинути курити. Він постійно кашляє. 7. У тебе почервонілі очі. Пора б уже тобі перестати сидіти за комп’ютером до ночі. 8. У Еліс болить у животі вже тиждень. Пора вже їй піти до лікарні, в неї може бути апендицит. 9. Роуз постійно задихається. Пора б вже їй перевірити легені. 10. Стівен давно страждає від безсоння. Пора б вже йому приймати пігулки для сну.
Exercise 4 a) Complete these short exchanges with the correct form of these verbs: phone, buy, repair, stay, leave, redecorated, have, do, waste, stop, get and help.
That music again! It's high time you …......... some new CDs. – I’d rather (not) ......................................… my money on CDs.
It's time we .. a break. – I'd sooner we .. (not) working till we've finished.
I think it's time we ... – I’d rather ... a bit longer, if that's OK with you.
It's time we ....…the roof. – I’d rather we ….......... the bedroom.
It's about time he ….......................... you with the housework. – To be honest I'd sooner …................ it myself.
It's time we ...... the dinner ready. – I'd rather we ….... for a take-away.
b) You are a married couple. Make up a dialogue.
Student A: You are a wife. Your husband never wants to do anything about the house and you are annoyed about it.
Student B: You are a husband.