Study materials
In these sentences the past form stands where the meaning is about now.
It's time we left.
We should go now. We have not gone yet.
He talks as if he owned the place.
He talks as if he were the owner. He is not.
The past form here shows not time but distance from reality. It works the same way after wish. The article explains it's time with a past form and with to, and as if and as though.
A past form about now
After some phrases the verb is in the Past Simple although the meaning is about now. This step back shows that what is described is not real. It is called the unreal past.
| Phrase | What the step back shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| it's time with a subject | something should have happened and has not | It's time we went home. |
| as if, as though | the comparison is not true | He acts as if he were the boss. |
It's time
After it's time with a subject, the verb is in the Past Simple, although the sentence is about now. It says something should have happened already and has not.
It's time we went home.
It's time you got a job.
With high or about the reproach is stronger: It's high time they fixed that door, It's about time you called your mum.
Without a subject, it's time is followed by to and the base form: It's time to go. You can also say it's time for us to go. A present tense after it's time with a subject is treated as a mistake, and the Past Perfect is not used here either.
As if and as though
As if and as though mean the same. If the comparison may be true, they are followed by an ordinary tense.
It looks as if it is going to rain.
Quite possible.
She sounds as if she has a cold.
To show that the comparison is not true, the verb steps back. The Past Simple talks about now, the Past Perfect about something earlier.
He talks as if he knew everything.
He does not.
He acts as though he were the boss.
She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
So the form shows your position. The step back tells the listener you do not believe the comparison. An ordinary tense leaves it possible. In conversation an ordinary tense also appears when the comparison is false, so the step back is not compulsory here.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is a present tense after it's time with a subject.
It's time we go home. → It's time we went home.
With a subject, the Past Simple is needed.
The second mistake is for without to.
It's time for go. → It's time to go.
Without a subject, to plus the base form follows.
The third mistake is the Past Simple for something that happened earlier.
She looked as if she saw a ghost. → She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
The seeing would have come earlier, so the Past Perfect.
The first and second mistakes show right after it's time. If a subject follows, the verb is in the Past Simple. If there is no subject, to plus the base form is needed. The third shows when you ask when the action after as if happened. If it came before the action of the main clause, had plus the third form is needed.