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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Tense question
Why is the past tense used, and not the present, in these examples?
Isn't it time you 'started' exercising.
Isn't it time you 'cleaned' your room.
Isn't it time you 'had' surgery.
Isn't it time you 'started' exercising.
Isn't it time you 'cleaned' your room.
Isn't it time you 'had' surgery.
Top answer
It's idiomatic English. If the term 'past tense' bothers you, you can call the verb forms preterites instead. CB
- It's idiomatic English.
- If the term 'past tense' bothers you, you can call the verb forms preterites instead.
- CB
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7 Answers
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It's idiomatic English. If the term 'past tense' bothers you, you can call the verb forms preterites instead.
CB
CB
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Cool BreezeIt's idiomatic English. If the term 'past tense' bothers you, you can call the verb forms preterites instead.CBThanks. Is does not bother me, but I was wondering about the reason, specifically because we are talking about the present or future and not the past. Doesn't preterities mean the same as past tense?
Would it be wrong to use the p
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AnonymousWould it be wrong to use the present tense instead?Yes.
The idea behind It's time you cleaned ... is similar to that behind that of a hypothetical condition - It would be good if you cleaned ... .
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fivejedjon AnonymousWould it be wrong to use the present tense instead?Yes.The idea behind It's time you cleaned ... is similar to that behind that of a hypothetical condition - It would be good if you cleaned ... .I see. Thanks for explaining. So it is one of those tricky English uses and an exception, right?
Also, just to confirm, the word 'would'
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Anonymousthe word 'would' always takes a past tense in the following if-clause, but not in a straight one sentence. Would that be correct?I am not sure what you mean by 'straight one sentence'.
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fivejedjon Anonymousthe word 'would' always takes a past tense in the following if-clause, but not in a straight one sentence. Would that be correct?I am not sure what you mean by 'straight one sentence'.I said that because I was not sure how to explain it. I am thinking maybe any other sentence not in an if-clause. So the if-clause always takes a past tense
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fivejedjon Anonymousthe word 'would' always takes a past tense in the following if-clause, but not in a straight one sentence. Would that be correct?I am not sure what you mean by 'straight one sentence'.Hi teacher, would you please answer my previous posts regarding the use of 'would'. Thanks in advance!
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