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Question

Difficulty: HardVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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

Answer:The environmental advocacy group emphasized that it was high time the state ministry [enforce] 【enforced】 strict regulatory penalties on industrial polluters.

Answer

enforced
The correct verb form is 'enforced' because the construction 'it is/was high time' followed by a subject clause requires the simple past tense (past subjunctive). This structure expresses urgency or a delayed obligation regarding a present or future action.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main clause structure and introductory expression.
The sentence contains the fixed unreal past expression 'it was high time' followed by a subject noun phrase ('the state ministry').
Expressions such as 'it is time', 'it is high time', or 'it is about time' when followed by a personal subject require the subjunctive simple past tense form of the verb.
2
Inflect the base verb in brackets 'enforce' into the correct grammatical form.
The simple past inflection of 'enforce' is 'enforced'.
The past form 'enforced' is required by the unreal past construction to convey that the action is overdue, even though the semantic time reference pertains to the present or immediate future.

Key Concept

Unreal Past and Subjunctive Mood after 'It is high time'
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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