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MCQ questions (the past tense)

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Bird flu vs. bird disease | Need a little help with my text

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#1 (permalink) Sat Feb 18, 2006 15:37 pm MCQ questions (the past tense)

The answer for those both MCQ questions is the past tense ,why ? 1) It is about time we ------ the answer . a) got b) get c) getting 2) It is high time I ------ Regards Emad

Emad
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#2 (permalink) Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:56 am Got

Hi Emad,

You want to know why the missing verb appears as an apparent past tense in:

Quote:

1)It is about time we -GOT-----the answer .
a) got b)get c)getting

2)It is high time I-----GOT----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This construction is described as the subjunctive and in English it is not possible in most verbs to distinguish between past simple (indicative) and past simple (subjunctive) In both of your sentences the verb got is past subjunctive and in effect means: we should get and I should get.

I would like to refer you to a piece I've written on the subjunctive, which may help. You'll find it in the index under the heading Subjunctive.

Alan
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