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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

In the statement below, which verb form grammatically completes the clause expressing an action that is overdue?

'The department manager emphasized to the team that it is high time they _______ their monthly performance reports.'

  1. submittedAnswer
  2. B
    submit
  3. C
    should submit
  4. D
    have submitted

Answer

The correct option is 'submitted'.
The simple past verb form 'submitted' is correct because the phrase 'it is high time' followed by a subject requires the simple past tense to express an action that is long overdue.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key grammatical expression in the sentence structure.
The clause begins with 'it is high time they...'
The idiomatic structure 'it is high time' sets up an unreal past requirement.
2
Select the appropriate verb tense required by this structure.
The verb following the subject 'they' must be in the simple past tense ('submitted').
When 'it is high time' is followed by a personal subject, English grammar mandates the use of the simple past tense to indicate that an action ought to have been done already.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Tense following 'It is high time'
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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