UNREAL PAST (IT’S TIME) — EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
C1–C2 · AdvancedIt’s time is followed by a past tense form to suggest that something should happen now or very soon. This is part of a broader pattern in English where past tense signals hypothetical rather than past meaning.
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Choose the correct way to end each "It's time" sentence. If both options are correct, choose BOTH ARE CORRECT.
1. It's time ________________.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
2. It's time ________________ that he knew about the incident.
Correct answer: he admitted
3. It's time ________________ public with that information.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
4. It's time ________________ this matter.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
5. It's time ________________ smoking.
Correct answer: I stopped
6. It's time ________________ a break.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
7. It's time ________________ our parents home.
Correct answer: my brother and I drove
8. It's time ________________ the broken washing machine.
Correct answer: the landlord fixed
9. It's time ________________.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
10. It's time ________________.
Correct answer: BOTH ARE CORRECT
Grammar review
Unreal past: it's time
It's time + past tense: action should happen now, not in the past.
It's time you apologized. It's time we left.
Part of a broader pattern of using past tense to express hypothetical meaning in English.
It's time + past tense: action should happen now, not in the past.
It's time you apologized. It's time we left.
Part of a broader pattern of using past tense to express hypothetical meaning in English.
KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
More unreal past & conditional exercises:
Unreal past (wishes) 1 (C1/C2)
Unreal past (wishes) 2 (C1/C2)
Second conditional 1 (B1/B2)
Second conditional 2 (B1/B2)
Third conditional 1 (B2/C1)
Third conditional 2 (B1/B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
More unreal past & conditional exercises:
Unreal past (wishes) 1 (C1/C2)
Unreal past (wishes) 2 (C1/C2)
Second conditional 1 (B1/B2)
Second conditional 2 (B1/B2)
Third conditional 1 (B2/C1)
Third conditional 2 (B1/B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
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