It is time you go/went

[Lycen]

From what I know, the present subjunctive is used in very formal English as such:

It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
The board of directors recommended that he join the company.

For the example below, why does the past subjunctive fits perfectly? Shouldn't it be the present subjunctive?

It is time you go/went home.

Thank you.

[Solan]

1) it's time (for somebody) to ...
it's time for us to go home.

1-1) you can use past, but the meaning is present, not past.
It's time we went home.

2) If you want to criticize or complain use this structure:
It's time you did something ( you should have already done it or started it)

It's time you stopped staying out so late.

2-1) It's about time ... makes the criticism stronger.
It's about time you stopped staying out so late.

[James M]

I agree with Solan.

(1) A mother might say: "Oh, look. It's 8 p.m. It's time that you all GO to bed. Sweet dreams!"

(2) The same mother might say on another night: "You know that bedtime is 8 p.m. Here it is already 8:45, and you are still playing. It is

high time that you all WENT to bed. Don't make me angry."

[Lycen]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I understand the examples you have given, but it is just the discrepancy in usage between sentences like the ones below that's bothering me:

It's time you did something. (past subjunctive)

The board of directors recommended that he join the company. (present subjunctive)

Is there no standardization in this?

[James M]

(1) I, too, hope that a very knowledgeable person answers your "it is time" question.

(2) I'm happy to share what little I understand about your second question. Here is what I understand: (1) The subjunctive is very much alive here in the United States. So most teachers would expect "The board recommends/recommended that he JOIN. (2) I have read that our dear British friends are not so keen on the subjunctive but that -- under American influence -- they are moving back to it. Thus, our British friends seem to have three choices: The board recommends that he JOIN/ JOINS/ SHOULD JOIN. (Do you have a copy of Michael Swan's very popular book "Practical English Usage"? He has a good section on the subjunctive.)

[James M]

BULLETIN!!! (1) I went on the Web to find some info about "It's time." I found a very good explanation from several experts. Where? Right here at this website!!! Just go to the search box and type in: It's time you go to bed vs. it's time you went to bed. (You will learn a lot from that March, 2011, thread. Enjoy!!!)

P.S. Be sure to click "forum search," NOT "Google search."

[Lycen]

Oh, thanks so much for your effort James! I understand it clearly now I have visited the thread.

[James M]

Thank you for your kind note.