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Question

Difficulty: EasyVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

The chairman observed that it was getting late and remarked, "It is high time we _______ for the annual conference." Which option best completes the sentence?

  1. leftAnswer
  2. B
    leave
  3. C
    should leave
  4. D
    are leaving

Answer

The correct form to complete the sentence is 'left'.
The idiom 'it is high time' indicates that an action is past due. When followed by a subject, it requires a verb in the simple past tense ('left') to convey the unreal past construction correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key grammatical expression introducing the clause.
The sentence uses the idiomatic expression 'It is high time'.
This structure triggers the unreal past mood in English grammar.
2
Select the appropriate verb tense required by this structure.
The verb following the subject 'we' must take the simple past form 'left'.
When 'it is high time' is followed by a subject (noun or pronoun), the verb must be in the simple past tense even though it refers to a present or immediate future necessity.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Tense with 'It is high time'
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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