English grammar can be extremely tricky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is especially true for subjunctive mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today you’ll learn how to express in English that something is overdue or should have happened already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listen to today\u2019s episode and get three different grammar forms to do this in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s episode is inspired by a listener\u2019s question about subjunctive grammar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nHow are you doing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is Ahmad Qunies from Saudi Arabia. My learning English journey completely changed since 5 months once I started listening to your podcast. I wish you all the best and full of success with your great podcast.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Few weeks ago I heard the following sentence from a speaker talking about his son that it is the time to go to sleep:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is time he went to bed\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t used to hear similar sentences before but I understand that the speaker meant the present while using the past tense. Can you please clarify how we use the past tense to express the present?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish to hear one podcast about this sentence.<\/em><\/p>\nBest regards,
Ahmad Qunies<\/strong><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThis is a very interesting question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a very high-level skill to learn how to use the subjunctive mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can be confusing but once you master this, it will definitely make you sound more native and natural in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nSubjunctive mood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lindsay and Aubrey share with you the building blocks of how to properly structure subjunctive mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will help you better understand how to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, subjunctive is a mood and not a tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The difference between a mood and a tense is that a mood is used to convey the speaker’s attitude toward something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is often used to refer to hypothetical situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The subjunctive often uses past tense verbs when you would expect to see the present tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nIt’s time…<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ahmad\u2019s example shows the subjunctive mood with the phrase, “It’s time…”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“It is time he went to bed.<\/em><\/strong>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The verb \u2018went\u2019 is in the past, instead of \u2018go\u2019 in the present tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this example, the speaker is saying that it\u2019s already expected for someone to be in bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today we’ll share multiple options for conveying this same meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n#1: Subjunctive mood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
First, let’s look at constructing this phrase using the subjunctive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verbs in the present subjunctive take the infinitive form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verbs in the past subjunctive are identical to their past simple form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- It\u2019s time I got my haircut. It is really long.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s time I looked for a different job. I need more flexibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All these mean that it\u2019s past time for these things to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is long overdue and it is expected that it should have already happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t miss this deep dive of subjunctive mood in English<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n#2: It’s time + infinitive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can avoid the subjunctive by using an infinitive after the words \u2018it\u2019s time\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are examples using this form:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- It\u2019s time to go to bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s time to cut my hair.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s time to look for a new job.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These mean it\u2019s time for you to do the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to convey that something is overdue, you can add the phrase “high time”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- It\u2019s high time to go to bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s high time to cut my hair.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s high time to look for a new job.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These phrases mean that these actions are overdue to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n#3: It’s time + for<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The third option is to say \u201cit\u2019s time\u201d followed by \u201cfor\u201d and the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- It\u2019s time for you to go to bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s time for you to cut your hair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These just mean that the time has arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once again, you can add “high time” to imply that it is overdue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- It\u2019s high time for you to go to bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s high time for you to cut your hair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This implies that it’s past time for the action to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nRoleplay<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the grammar tips<\/a> shared in today\u2019s episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n