It's time you started acting like a responsible adult

Question

Is the following sentence correct? I could have used start instead of started. What is the reason for using started? It's time you started acting like a responsible adult.

Hena · Accepted Answer

Yup, that sentence is correct and "start" wouldn't work there. I've checked it from a grammar book to be sure and here it says "it is time" should be followed by past simple or continuous; I can't explain why though...

Yoong Liat · Answer

Jackson6612Is the following sentence correct? I could have used start instead of started. What is the reason for using started?

It's time you started acting like a responsible adult.

It's time/high time/about time you started ... (According to an English usage book, the reason is that you should have started, but you haven't)

It's time you went home. (You should have gone home, but you haven't.)

Jackson6612 · Answer

Yoong Liat
Jackson6612Is the following sentence correct? I could have used start instead of started. What is the reason for using started?

It's time you started acting like a responsible adult.
It's time/high time/about time you started ... (According to an English usage book, the reason is that you should have started, but you haven't)

It's time you went home. (You should have gone home, but you haven't.)

Thank you, Yoong. Your explanation helped me a lot in understanding the use of started in that sentence.
Best wishes, Jackson

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Jackson

You're welcome.

Best wishes.

Jackson6612 · Answer

HenaYup, that sentence is correct and "start" wouldn't work there. I've checked it from a grammar book to be sure and here it says "it is time" should be followed by past simple or continuous; I can't explain why though...

I have written the red sentence as: Though I can't explain why...
Is my way also correct? If it is, then which way would you prefer and why?

It's time you started acting like a responsible adult

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