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Greek Professor
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Another puzzling question I have....
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Good Morning from sunny Athens...
Hope everyone is well... Sunday...AAAA!!!!!relaxation....No way...too much work...anyway...I have another puzzling question... Actually puzzling grammar point...in a test in the Masterind use of English for Proficiency.
Here it is...
"We don �t have a burglar alarm."
"Then it �s about time......"
a] for installing one
b] you install one
c] one was installing
d] to install one...
The answer according to the book is D
I know the applied rules for IT"S ABOUT TIME... BUT?...here says something else...I did some searching but came up with nothing....
Can someone please enlighten me again....
Thanks in advance
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21 Mar 2010
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libertybelle
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I �m not sure what the problem is - but D is the only answer here.
If you could add the word THAT to the second answer- then you could also have answered:
Then it �s about time that you install(ed) one.
I really can �t help you by answering this grammatically, but perhaps someone else can.
L
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21 Mar 2010
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Jayho
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Hi GP
Scroll down to 9 Dec (right down the bottom).
Cheers
Jayho
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21 Mar 2010
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lovemykids
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Hi! Here in Uruguay is not that sunny but.... 
Regarding your question, when I saw the example the first thing that came to my mind was the use of the it �s about time+ simple past: �Then it �s about time we installed one �. However in this case the infinitive can be used as well, for example; � It �s time to buy a new car �. (or it �s about time...) Sometimes it �s necessary to express the subject of the infinitive, the �for+object+infinitive � structure as follows: It �s time for her to go to bed. In your example we could say: �It �s about time for us to install one � as well but they just didn �t mention the subject which is implied.
Have a great Sunday!!! |
21 Mar 2010
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Greek Professor
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Thanks everyone for your reply...
Libertybell thanks...
Jayho...I took a look at the site...thanks...seems reasonable...but here we have full infinitive...There sentence is as it is in the test...
lovemykids...thanks for your reply ..but ive been a teacher for years and have never come across "it �s about time with full infinitive...."
Full infinitive comes after "It �s time ......
thanks again... |
21 Mar 2010
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dawnmain
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Im not happy with any of the answers. "It �s about time" uses a subjunctive type construction.
It �s about time you installed one.
you could say- it �s time to install one.
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21 Mar 2010
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mariamit
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Hi Effie,
Also if I remember my grammar correctly after �it �s (about) time � we use the subjective/ full infinitive while the past subjunctive is not usually possible. If you have Longman�s Grammar and Vocabulary for CAE and CPE by Side & ,Wellman check out the chapter on subjunctive. I think they mention the rule. |
21 Mar 2010
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Greek Professor
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Thanks mariamit....it is enlightening.. but I still don �t have an appropriate answer...
I don �t have the book you suggest.. but all the gramar books that i have and they are quite a few, say nowhere about full infintive after about/ high time...
anyway.... thanks again for taking the time...
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21 Mar 2010
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Jayho
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Hi GP
�It �s time � and �it �s about time � are often interchangeable. We use �it �s about time � when we have already given that advice before, it wasn �t taken and now the issue has arisen again.
Swan PEU has a bit on it at 306 but it is in the past tense. He mentions �it �s high time � but not �about time �. �It �s high time � is typically British so maybe �it �s about time is American English �. Downunder we use both.
Cheers -- Jayho |
21 Mar 2010
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Greek Professor
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Hi Jayho...
It �s funny you should mention this...I too am from downunder but have Never seen nor used it �s high time/about time this way... and in my years of teaching [which are many].. have never seen it written anywhere ...until today ..thanks to my colleagues who found the time to answer my question...
Thanks again everyone... |
21 Mar 2010
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mena22
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According to Michael Swan, you use "it �s (about/high) time" followed by Infinitive as in "It �s time to buy a new car", or with the structure for + object + Infinitive if it is necessary to express the subject: "It �s time for her to go to bed".
He also says that the expression "it �s time" can be used followed by past tense with present meaning, as in the examples: "It �s time she went to bed"; "It �s time you washed those trousers"; "I �m getting tired. it �s time we went home".
So, in the example you gave us, and according to Swan, the only option is d) - the structure it �s (about/high) time" followed by Infinitive. For b) to be correct, the option would have to be "you installed one", in the past tense, and not in the Present - "you install one".
Hope I could help.
Hugs,
mena |
21 Mar 2010
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