time

[Unregistered]

Dear teachers.

I'd like to know the difference of four sentences.

1, It's time for bed.
2, It's time to go to bed.
3, It's time you go to bed.
4, It's time you went to bed.

Thank you in advance.

[Casiopea]

Dear teachers.

I'd like to know the difference of four sentences.

1, It's time for bed.
2, It's time to go to bed.
3, It's time you go to bed.
4, It's time you went to bed.

Thank you in advance.

1. and 2. are synonymous. 3. and 4. make reference to a specific person, 'you'.

Please note, use a period ( . ) after numbers, like this,

1.
2.
3.
4.

Why not register?

[HCaulfield]

Is 3 correct? I think 4 is right, because of the subjunctive mode...

[Casiopea]

Is 3 correct? I think 4 is right, because of the subjunctive mode...

3. It's time you go to bed.
4. It's time you went to bed.

Well, both sound fine to my North American ears.

[Dany]

Well, both sound fine to my North American ears.

Hello Casiopea,

I have learned that after "It's time you/we/she a.s.o." is used the simple past as a form of subjunktive.

Example:
It's time we went to the stadion.
It's time to go to the station.
It's time we go to the stadion.

It's time you went to bed.
It's time to go to bed.
It's time you go to bed.



Kind regards,
Dany

[Casiopea]

Hello Casiopea,
I have learned that after "It's time you/we/she a.s.o." is used the simple past as a form of subjunctive.

That's my understanding as well, Dany.

EX: It's time we [should] leave. (modal + base verb)


Try this site:

THE NEW ENGLISH "SUBJUNCTIVE"

Charles-James N. Bailey

The dead subjunctive mode has been replaced by several modalities:

2.Optional should-deletion.

Online Source: http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L54.html

[Dany]

That's my understanding as well, Dany.

EX: It's time we [should] leave. (modal + base verb)


Try this site:

THE NEW ENGLISH "SUBJUNCTIVE"

Charles-James N. Bailey

The dead subjunctive mode has been replaced by several modalities:

2.Optional should-deletion.

Online Source: http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L54.html

Now, I understand nothing. If I understand it right, it is wrong to say "It's time you went to bed." But it is right to say "It's time you go to bed"?

Please help me

[Tdol]

No, say 'went'.

[Marylin]

No, say 'went'.

I know what you are saying but the fact is that both:

It's time you went to bed &
It's time you go to bed.

are used interchangeably all the time and both sound fine to me. So what should we teach the kids then?

[Casiopea]

Now, I understand nothing. If I understand it right, it is wrong to say "It's time you went to bed." But it is right to say "It's time you go to bed"?

Please help me

You're OK. Don't worry. The site I gave you above says this:

The word "should" is often omitted:

It's time you should go.
It's time you go.

Now, as for "It's time you went/left", it's short for "It's time that you went/left":

It's time you went.
It's time that you went.

that functions as a conjunction in that context. It joins the sentence "It is time" with the sentence "you went". When that functions as a conjunctions, it is often omitted. That's why "It's time you went" works.