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Part 2 ยท Episode 21 B1-B2

It’s Time We Changed

๐Ÿ“ It's time + past tense

Suffragettes ยท 1913: Women's suffrage march ๐Ÿ“– 5 min read

Episode 21: It’s Time We Changed

It’s time + past tense โ€” Suffragettes, 1913 (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: “It’s time + past tense” expresses that something should happen now because it’s already overdue or necessary.

Form: It’s time + subject + past simple verb (though the meaning is present/future, not past).

Example 1: “It’s time we left for the airport.” (We should leave now; we’re getting late.)

Example 2: “It’s time she found a new job.” (She should look for one now; she’s stayed too long.)

Common mistake: Wrong: “It’s time we leave.” Better: “It’s time we left.” (Always use past tense after “it’s time.”)

The Challenge

Luna stared at her essay draft: “It’s time we leave this old habit behind.” Professor Wisdom circled it gently. “Close, but something’s missing,” he said. “When we say ‘it’s time,’ we use a past form, even though we mean now or future. Strange, right?” Luna frowned. “But why past if we mean now?” The watch glowed softly. “Let’s see why this grammar carries urgency,” the Professor smiled.

The Journey

London, March 1913. Rain drizzled on wet cobblestones as thousands of women gathered near Parliament, their breath visible in the cold air. These were the suffragettes, ordinary women turned activists, teachers and nurses and mothers who’d decided enough was enough. For decades, they’d been told to wait, to be patient, to let men decide their futures.

Among them stood Emmeline Pankhurst, a widow in her fifties with steel-gray eyes and a voice that could silence a crowd. She’d lost friends to this cause, spent time in prison, endured force-feeding during hunger strikes. But she never stopped believing that change was not just possible but necessary.

Today’s march was peaceful, but the tension was real. Police lined the streets, faces stern. Hecklers shouted insults. Yet the women walked forward, banners held high: “Votes for Women.” Emmeline stepped onto a wooden platform, her coat soaked, her voice cutting through the rain. “It’s time we had the same rights as men. It’s time Parliament listened. It’s time this injustice ended.”

The crowd roared. Not because change would come tomorrow, but because she named the truth: waiting was over.

The Deep Dive

“It’s time + past tense” creates urgency by implying something is already late or overdue. We use past simple (not present) after “it’s time” to show this situation should have changed already. The past form doesn’t mean the action happened; it signals that delay has gone on too long.

Compare: “It’s time to leave” (neutral, factual) vs. “It’s time we left” (urgent, we’re already late). The past tense adds emotional weight and impatience. Common mistake: saying “it’s time we go” sounds incomplete in formal contexts.

When NOT to use: Avoid this structure for casual suggestions without urgency. Say “Let’s eat” instead of “It’s time we ate” if you’re simply hungry, not starving. This grammar works best when change is clearly overdue.

More Examples

History: “By 1945, it was time the world ended the war.” (The suffering had lasted too long.)

Workplace: “It’s time we updated our software; this system is from 2010.” (Change is overdue and necessary.)

Everyday: “It’s time you got some rest; you’ve been working for twelve hours straight.” (Urgency for someone’s well-being.)

Parenting: “It’s time he learned to cook; he’s twenty-five and eats instant noodles every night.” (A skill long overdue.)

Contrast: “It’s time to go” (simple fact) vs. “It’s time we went” (we’re running late and should’ve left already).

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

  1. Fill in the blank: It’s time the government _ (take) action on climate change.

  2. Correct the mistake: “It’s time we are leaving for the concert.”

  3. Choose and explain: Which feels more urgent?
    a) “It’s time to change the plan.”
    b) “It’s time we changed the plan.”

  4. Rewrite: Transform “You should start studying for the exam now” using “it’s time.”

  5. Compare: Explain the difference between “It’s time to sleep” and “It’s time we slept.”

  6. Your reflection: Write a sentence about something in your life that’s overdue for change, using “it’s time + past tense.”

Answer Key:
1. took (past simple to show urgency and delay)
2. “It’s time we left for the concert.” (Always past tense after “it’s time.”)
3. (b) “It’s time we changed” feels more urgent; the past tense implies delay has been too long.
4. “It’s time you started studying for the exam.” (Shows studying is already overdue.)
5. “It’s time to sleep” = neutral fact. “It’s time we slept” = urgent, we’re staying up too late.
6. Check: Does your sentence use past tense and express something overdue? Example: “It’s time I learned to say no to extra work.”

The Lesson

Luna returned home, rewrote her sentence: “It’s time we left this old habit behind.” “Better,” the Professor nodded. “The past tense doesn’t look back. It pushes forward, saying the moment for change is now.” Luna smiled. Sometimes the best way to talk about the future is to show how long the past has already waited.