It's About Time We [Make/Made] Something
It is time we recognized the huge contribution that migration has made to the economic growth of this country.
? Jeremy Corbyn
It's about time we make health care a right.
?Bernie Sanders
Would you tell me why Bernie Sanders used the present subjunctive, not the past tense?
I'm familiar with the following two sentences except the third one.
It's about time you went home.
It's about time you should go home.
It's about time you go home (?)
So, I take it for granted that Jeremy Corbyn used the past tense.
Plus, could you tell me if there is difference in meaning between "It's about time we make health care a right" and "It's about time we made health care a right"?
Top answer
Americans are likely to use either the present or the past tense after It's (about) time that . The British have a definite preference for the past tense. You can find examples in both varieties of English of both "It's time we go" and "It's time we went", and in both varieties, the usage "It's time we went" predominates, but "It's time we go" is much, much less used in Britain than in North America.
- Americans are likely to use either the present or the past tense after It's (about) time that .
- The British have a definite preference for the past tense.
- You can find examples in both varieties of English of both "It's time we go" and "It's time we went", and in both varieties, the usage "It's time we went" predominates, but "It's time we go" is much, much less used in Britain than in North America.
- There is no difference in meaning.
- CJ
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Americans are likely to use either the present or the past tense after It's (about) time that. The British have a definite preference for the past tense.
You can find examples in both varieties of English of both "It's time we go" and "It's time we went", and in both varieties, the usage "It's time we went" predominates, but "It's time we go" is much, much less used in Britain th
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