It's time we left: the unreal past

It's time we left

It's time + a past form means: we should do it now, and we have not done it yet.

• It's time we left. - we are still here; we should go.
• It's time you found your own flat.
• It's high time this stopped. - high adds "and it's late".

It's time to go, with to, is the neutral way to say it. The past form sounds a little impatient: somebody has stayed too long.

I'd rather you didn't

After I'd rather (I would rather), the verb depends on the person:

Do you mind if I smoke? - I'd rather you didn't. That is a polite no, with no no in it.

American English also says I'd rather you stay. I'd rather you to stay is wrong everywhere.

As if he owned the place

After as if or as though, a past form says: this is not true.

• He talks as if he owned the place. - he does not own it.
• She looked at me as though I were mad. - I was not.

With a present form, it may be true: It looks as if it's going to rain. In speech, people also say as if he owns the place for something untrue. The past form makes "not true" clear.

Common mistakes