It's Time We Went (Expressing Urgency)

• It’s time + subject + past simple verb: This is the most common form, directly associating the desired action with a specific subject. The past simple verb indicates the unreal nature of the proposal. For instance, It’s time she started her presentation indicates that the speaker believes she should begin now, rather than waiting.
• It’s time + for + object + to-infinitive: This alternative expresses general urgency without explicitly assigning the action to a specific grammatical subject in the same way. It is more about the general necessity of an action. For example, It’s time for a decision to be made focuses on the decision itself, not who makes it. While often interchangeable in meaning regarding urgency, the choice between these two forms influences the degree of personal involvement and directness in the suggestion.

This is a classic example of the unreal past or past subjunctive in English. The past tense verb form (went, discussed, had) does not refer to past time. Instead, it creates a sense of detachment or hypothetical distance from present reality. It signals that the speaker is talking about a desired, suggested, or overdue action that hasn't happened yet, but should happen now or very soon. It's a grammatical mechanism to soften a suggestion or express urgency without a direct command, similar to how we use the past in I wish I knew (meaning, I don't know now, but I wish I did).

While often conveying similar urgency, these two structures carry subtle differences in emphasis and tone. It’s time for us to go (It’s time for + object + to-infinitive) focuses more on the general necessity of the action itself. It can feel slightly more formal or objective. It’s time we went (It’s time + subject + past simple) is more personal, implying a shared responsibility or a collective suggestion involving the specified subject (e.g., we, you, he). It often feels more collaborative or direct in its suggestion to the specific person(s) involved. Choose It’s time we went for a more engaging, personalized call to action.

These phrases all signal urgency but with varying degrees of emphasis and emotional nuance:

• It’s time: This is the most neutral. It simply states that the appropriate moment for an action has arrived. Example: It’s time we started the meeting. (A simple observation that the meeting should begin.)
• It’s high time: This conveys a stronger sense of urgency and often implies that the action is overdue. There's frequently an underlying tone of impatience, mild criticism, or exasperation that the action hasn't been taken yet. Example: It’s high time you apologized to her. (You should have done this a while ago, and I'm somewhat annoyed you haven't.)
• It’s about time: This suggests that an action should have happened much sooner, often implying relief that it is finally happening, or strong exasperation that it took so long. It can sometimes carry a sarcastic undertone. Example: It’s about time they upgraded the office computers! (They've been so slow; I'm relieved they're finally doing it, but it should have happened ages ago.)

Yes, the structure It’s time + subject + simple past verb is consistent for all subjects, whether singular or plural, first, second, or third person. The past simple verb form does not change based on the subject in this construction. For example:

• It’s time he understood the gravity of the situation.
• It’s time she made a decision.
• It’s time they addressed the problem.

Traditionally, the past subjunctive form were is preferred for all subjects (including I, he, she, it) in this construction to emphasize the hypothetical or desired nature of the statement. For example, It’s time I were more responsible. However, in modern, informal English, was is very commonly used, especially for I, he, she, and it. While was is widely accepted, particularly in spoken English, using were marks a more formal or traditionally grammatically correct style. For C1 learners, understanding both is important, with were being the safer choice in academic or formal writing.

This structure is quite versatile and can appear in both formal and informal contexts. Its inherent politeness (due to the unreal past) makes it suitable for formal suggestions (It’s time we revisited the company policy). However, its ability to convey impatience or exasperation means it's also very common in informal settings (It’s about time you got here!). The specific context and the choice of time, high time, or about time will largely dictate its perceived register. For a C1 learner, this flexibility is one of its strengths, allowing for nuanced communication across various social registers.