It's time

[kohyoongliat]

I would like to know why we have to say, "It's time we went.'
Thanks in advance.

[Harry Smith]

I would like to know why we have to say, "It's time we went.'
Thanks in advance.

It's time you did smth.= you should have done it already or started it. It's often used to criticise or to complain.
It time we went home. It time you knew about it.

[queenbu]

It's often used to criticise or to complain.

Not necessarily.

It's time to do sth used to say that something should happen or be done now.

[Harry Smith]

I think " It's time to do " and " It's time smb. did" are different, aren't they?

[Jerezgirl]

I think " It's time to do " and " It's time smb. did" are different, aren't they?

Yes, for example

"It´s time you went to bed" (Slightly authoritive/critical.)
"It´s time to go to bed" (a simple fact)

[mykwyner]

In English, we use the pronoun + verbit is when there is no antecedent for it.

It's raining. What is raining?

It's a beautiful day. It's time to go. It's never too late.

Many (most?) other languages would just use to be without a pronoun in the above sentences.

[Casiopea]

I would like to know why we have to say, "It's time we went.'

Well, it's an imagined or wishful situation. We haven't left yet and I want to leave.

"The past form...is, I think, the subjunctive form of the verb. The subjunctive is often used when we talk about unreal or imagined situations.

You can imagine the person who said that might be looking at their watch and worrying perhaps about catching a train."

Read more here.

With regards to "It's time we leave", it's an elliptical structure, considered to be the result of an optional should-deletion rule at play.

should-deletion
Ex: It's time (that) we should leave => (that) we leave.
Subjunctive
Ex: It's time (that) we left. <wishful thinking >

should-deletion
Ex: It's time we (should) go.
Subjunctive
Ex: It's time we went. <wishful thinking >

All the best.

[kohyoongliat]

Hi Casiopea

You wrote: "With regards to ... ". I was taught at school that it should be "With regard to ... "

You wrote: "It's time we (should) go home." But from what I've read in English usage books, it should be "It's time we went" or "It's time to go".

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks in advance.

[Casiopea]

You wrote: "With regards to ... ". I was taught at school that it should be "With regard to ... "

You're right; I'm wrong. I don't and probably shouldn't have warm thought towards the examples sentence. It should be, With regard to.

You wrote: "It's time we (should) go home." But from what I've read in English usage books, it should be "It's time we went" or "It's time to go".

'went' and '(for me/him/her/us) to go' are Standard.

I'll look into should for you tomorrow. It's late (3:09 a.m.)

Happy Chinese New Year!

[queenbu]

It's time you went to bed, Casiopea!