It's time everyone told them to shut their rumour factories.

[aachu]

Why use second form of the verb told here? Shouldn't it be like: "It's time everyone tells them to shut their rumour factories"?

[5jj]

'It's time + subject + verb' requires the past tense of the verb.

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Aachu,

(1) The "correct" answer is "It is (high) time that everyone told them to shut down their rumor factories."

(2) Since you are a learner, it is a good idea if you always use the past tense (some

people prefer "past subjunctive")

form after "It is (high) time that ...." ("High" makes it stronger.)

(3) And remember: never use the "s" form after "It is (high) time that ...."

(4) NEVERTHELESS, please do not be astonished if you occasionally see a "It is

time that ...." sentence that uses the present tense (some people prefer "present

subjunctive").

(a) Here is an example from a famous English helpline on the Web:

(i) It is high time we send him a letter. (We have a plan to do something real.)

(ii) It is high time that we sent him a letter. (We are sorry that we have not sent him a letter. We may or may not send him a letter. It's a "wishful thought.")

Source: Grammar Logs # 471.

(b) Here are some examples from a famous grammarian named George O. Curme:

(i) It is high time that he go. [Remember: no "goes."]
(ii) It is high time that he went.
(iii) It is high time that he were going.
(iv) It is high time that he should go.

Professor Curme says that (ii) - (iv) are more "modest." That is, they are NOT so demanding as (i). `As the Grammar Logs said, (ii) - (iv) are "wishful thoughts."

Source: A Grammar of the English Language.

(5) It is only my opinion, then, that this would also be "good" English:

It is high time that everyone tell [remember: no "tells"] them to shut down their rumor factories. [As the Grammar Logs said, this might mean that you and others are making plans to shut them down -- sending in the police, passing legislation, etc.]

"It is high time that everyone told them ...." might be just a "wishful thought," as the
Grammar Logs said.

*****

To sum up:

(a) While you are a learner, make things "easy" by always using the past (subjunctive) after "It is (high) time that ...."

(b) If you see a present (subjunctive) form, remember that the sentence may also be
correct.

P.S. If any teacher disagrees with something in my post, you should believe him/her.