Subjunctive Mood?

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

Moderator: Alan

Locked
Lone
Rising Star
Rising Star
Posts: 92
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:47 pm

Subjunctive Mood?

Post by Lone »

Dear Alan,

I understand that we have to use the past tense after certain phrases like 'It is about time' and 'It is high time', e.g. It's about time I went home. It's high time I studied.

I thought the past tense is used above because of the subjunctive mood. But after second thought, it may not be correct, coz the past subjunctive is used for wishes, false or improbable conditions, while there's no such meaning in the 2 examples.

So, could you please tell me why the past form is used after the 'It's high time / It's about time'?

Many thanks!

Lone
User avatar
Alan
Teacher/Moderator
Teacher/Moderator
Posts: 15193
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Japan

Re: Subjunctive Mood?

Post by Alan »

The expression It's time that... governs the verb in the indicative, not the subjunctive, mood. The verb form is preterit. (e.g. It's time he was..., not *were...)
Locked