4. The use of subjunctive II and unreal past tenses in certain sentence patterns

Apart from the Second and Third Conditional sentences, Subjunctive II and the unreal past tenses are also used in certain sentence patterns to express criticism, advice, preference and wish.

1. CRITICISM

It is/was time high time about time

smb did smth

The expression «It is (high/about) time + smb did smth» is used to complain about or criticise something or someone:

It is time that the government took

some actions. — Вже час уряду вжити заходів.

The word high make the criticism even stronger.

It is high time that the government took some actions. — Давно вже час уряду вжити заходів.

Note. It is also possible to express the same idea by means of the for-to-infinitive construction:

It is time for the government to take some actions.

Exercise 68. Match the parts of the sentences and translate them into Ukrainian

It's time the child	given another chance.
It's high time someone stepped in	on your project?
Isn’t it high time you took	breakfast, isn't it?
«It's time someone gave me a hand!»	and stopped this meaningless quarrel.
It's about time he was	on a silver platter?
Don't you think it's time you were working	a place to settle in.
Michael was about five	were in bed.
Can't the child behave?	that idea?
Isn't it high time she gave up	some action against them?
It's time you were looking for	The remark went unnoticed.
Isn't it time that you stopped waiting for an opportunity to be offered you	It's high time someone told him that won't do.
It's time he were having	when his father thought it was time he should study music.

Exercise 69. Use the infinitives in brackets in the correct form

1. It’s high time you ………. (to do) something about that dripping tap!

2. It’s time the problem ………. (to deal with).

3. Don’t you find it’s time that someone ………. (to tell) our supervisor that the experiment is going wrong?

4. Isn’t it time he ………. (to be) at home?

5. It’s about time we ………. (to talk) about your plans.

6. Are you still reading? It’s time you ………. (to work) again.

7. Late again? It’s time you ………. (to look) for another job!

8. It’s time someone else ………. (to ask) to attend this boring conference — just for a change.

9. It’s high time you ………. (to stop) daydreaming.

10. It’s time he ………. (to consult) his colleagues, isn’t it?

11. It’s time some changes ………. (to made) in the De­partment. They are long overdue.

12. It’s time it ………. (to become) clear to you how total the failure is.

13. It’s high time something ………. (to do) about this case — and quickly.

14. It’s time that someone else (to chair) the meeting.

Exercise 70. Paraphrase the following sentences using the pattern «It is (high/about) time + smb did smth»

1. They’ve been parted for a long time. It’s time for him to forget about her.

2. It’s time for us to be given a definite answer.

3. Angela has known me for ages. It’s time for her to get used to my ways.

4. It’s time for you to know the meaning of the proverb “It never rains but it pours.”

5. If you want anything done properly, you should start doing it yourself.

6. The scheme is outdated. It’s time for some improvement.

7. I’ve just had bad luck. It’s about time for something good to happen.

8. Isn’t it necessary to put an end to her nag­ging?

9. Why don’t you ever speak up?

10. You’ve been learning English for some time. Why can’t you spell this word yet?

11. It’s time to be going home, I think.

12. It's high time for my fortune to take the turn for the better.

13. Isn’t it time for all of us to put some pressure on him? Otherwise he might never listen to our demands.

14. Why don’t you tell them anything about your decision?

Exercise 71. Translate into English

1. Вже час вам пояснити нам, що ви збираєтеся робити.

2. Тобі не здається, що нам вже час збирати речі?

3. Йому вже час подумати про своє особисте життя.

4. Його давно вже час провчити. Він мене дратує.

5. Вже час припинити цю марну суперечку.

6. Йому давно вже час заробляти на життя. Адже він не дитина.

7. Вже час відмовитися від думки бачитися з ним. Він не та людина, з якою можна мати справу.

8. Мені вже давно час покласти край його стражданням. Я повинна

розповісти всю правду.

9. Уже дванадцять. Уже час вимикати телевізор і лягати спати.

10. Ви вже давно працюєте тут. Вже час навчитися дотримуватися наших правил.

11. Вам не здається, що дітям давно вже час бути вдома?

12. Ви посварилися через дрібницю. Уже час б і помиритися.

13. Вже час б вам перестати скаржитися і почати діяти.

14. Мені здається, тобі вже час кинути палити ... Уже час, принаймні, спробувати.

2. ADVICE

Smb had better	do smth
	not do smth

This form is used to give advice or to say what the best thing to do in a particular situation is.

Had better may also suggest a treat or warning, recommendation if you don't do it, there will be a problem or a danger.

You'd better take an umbrella. It may rain. (You'll get wet through.) — Краще візьми з собою парасольку — може піти дощ.

It should be noted that had better suggests no idea of comparison. This structure means it would be good to do something, not it would be better.

Note. HAD BETTER and SHOULD. Unlike the modal verb should which expresses advice or somebody's opinion in general, had better is used for a particular situation and refers to the immediate future.

Should only means it's a good thing to do something, whereas had better implies the idea of warning or threat.

The book is interesting. You should read it. (I just advise you to read it but there is no problem if you don't read it.)

but The train starts at 7. You'd better take a taxi. (You're going to be late. If you don't take a taxi you'll miss the train. There is a risk of your missing it.)

Had better expresses more urgent and stronger advice than should/ought to but it is not as strong as must.

You must call in a doctor. He is getting worse.

You had better see Dr Brown today. He is leaving tomorrow. You should see the doctor if you are unwell.

Exercise 72. Make a choice between had better and should

1. I've got a terrible cold. — You ….. not go to work then.

2. There is a speed limit. You ….. not drive so fast.

3. Thank you for coming to see us. You ….. come more often.

4. She'll be offended if we don't invite her. You ….. invite her too.

5. Drivers ….. wear seat belts.

6. The road is dangerous. You ….. wear your seat belts.

7. You ….. not eat this salad. It's not fresh.

8. You … eat more vegetables if you want to be young.

9. You ….. buy these vegetables. They look fresh.

Exercise 73. Paraphrase the following sentences using had better

1. I don't advise you to give up the idea of getting in touch with him.

2. I shouldn't advise you to make a fuss about such a little thing.

3. Tell her that it would be more sensible if she doesn't put off what she has to do now.

4. I think it'll do you a lot of good if you read the book in the original, not in translation.

5. Take my advice and don't go into details.

6. Don't sign any documents until you have read it.

7. I think you should turn to him to find the best solution to that problem.