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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Answer:It is high time the school management 【adopted】 (adopt) stricter measures to curb truancy.

Answer

adopted
When the structure 'It is high time' is followed directly by a subject noun phrase ('the school management'), it requires the simple past form of the verb ('adopted') to indicate an action that should have already been taken.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key grammatical marker in the sentence structure.
The clause opens with the expression 'It is high time'.
The expression 'It is high time' (or 'It is time') followed by a subject noun phrase sets up an unreal past construction.
2
Apply the appropriate verb tense rule for unreal past expressions.
The verb following the subject must be in the simple past tense.
Even though the statement refers to a present or immediate action that ought to be taken, English grammar requires the simple past form after 'It is high time + subject'.
3
Inflect the base verb 'adopt' into its simple past form.
The correct form is 'adopted'.
'Adopted' is the simple past tense of 'adopt'.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Construction with 'It is high time'
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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