"It's time" + subjunctive

[Hugh]

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #130 "Way of saying goodbye", question 1

I'm afraid it's ......... we left.

(a) occasion
(b) time
(c) opportunity
(d) hour

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #130 "Way of saying goodbye", answer 1

I'm afraid it's time we left.

Correct answer: (b) time

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

why is it i'm afraid it's time we left and not i'm afraid it's time we leave/ we must leave

[Alan]

Hi,

In It's time we left, we are using the subjunctive of the verb because this means - it's time we should leave.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple