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Difficulty: MediumVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence below using the appropriate unreal past structure?

Answer:It is high time the coastal protection agency 【took】 decisive action to mitigate further shore erosion.

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'took'.
When the structure 'It is high time' is followed directly by a subject, it requires a simple past verb form ('took') to express that an action should have already been taken.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the introductory phrase in the sentence structure.
The sentence begins with the expression 'It is high time' followed by a subject ('the coastal protection agency').
Identifying the 'It is high time + subject' structure determines the required tense and mood rules.
2
Determine the correct verb form for unreal past constructions.
The verb following 'It is high time + subject' must be in the simple past tense ('took').
In standard English grammar, 'It is high time' indicates that an action is overdue and demands a simple past verb form to express present urgency.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Construction with 'It is high time'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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