English Speaking Patterns Mastery: It's about time that...

1. It's about time that... (Learn): the target pattern for this lecture is it's about time that what does this pattern mean? It's about time that let's have a look. Look at this example. It's about time that you got up. It's 10 o'clock. So what does it mean? It's about time that it means this thing should happen right now. Actually, it should have happened before. Now it's often used to show you are annoyed. So this pattern is saying that this thing I'm talking about should happen right now. Not later, right now. In fact, it should have happened before. But come on, do it right now. So in the example I gave, I said, It's about time that you got up. This means you get out of bed. So imagine I'm talking to my son, who is lazy. He's lying in bed. It's 10 o'clock in the morning. He should be up right? So I walk into his room. I'm a bit angry and annoyed. I say. It's about time you got up. So this means get up right now, and it also shows some annoyance. Usually it means you are a bit annoyed or a bit angry about something, so when I talk to my son and I say, Get out of bed now. It's about time you got up. I'm showing my anger. I'm showing that I'm not happy. Okay, so that's how we express this pattern. Let's look at some examples, Jane. It's about time you clean your room. You haven't cleaned it for months, said this person. Perhaps Jane's mother is saying it's about time you cleaned your room. It means you should have cleaned your room before. But anyway, clean it right now. And she's also showing her anger or annoyance because Jane hasn't cleaned the room for a long time. So it's about time you cleaned your room. Here's another example, Poll says. I'm thinking about buying a new car. I've had this one for 20 years, and Ray says yes. I think it's about time you bought a new car. That one is too old. So in this example, Ray is responding to his friend. He says, Yes, your car is very, very old. You should have bought a new car a long time ago. I think you should buy a new one right now. Ray is not showing his annoyance in this particular example, so It doesn't always show that you're angry or annoyed, but very often it does. In this particular example, Ray is not actually annoyed, but he's just saying Yes, I agree. You need to buy a new car right now. Here is one more example for you. It's about time that we went on a nice holiday. Where shall we go? This person is saying right now we should go on a holiday. We haven't been on holiday for a long, long time. We should have gone before, so let's organize a holiday right now. It's about time we went on holiday so we can use it to say we should do this. It's like a suggestion. I think we should do this. It's about time we went on holiday. So you're saying this is a good idea? Now let's look at the structure now for this particular pattern. Here's the structure. It's about time that, plus subject plus a past tense verb plus an object. For example. It's about time you bought a new car. So the structure off this pattern is very, very important. As you noticed, we use a past tense verb ob but we're not talking about the past. That's the strange thing about this structure. So if I say it's about time I bought a new car, bought is the past tense verb. But I'm not talking about the past I'm talking about now or the future, the near future. So I'm saying now I should buy a car, even though the verb is in the past when not talking about the past, we talking about now or the short term future. So it's a strange structure, but this is how we express it. We don't use a present tens of up use a past tense verb to keep that in mind. Now move on to the practice exercises. I'll see there. 2. It's about time that... Speaking (Practice 1): speaking practice for It's about time that listen to what I say. Then pause the video on. Repeat after me. Think about the pattern we studied. Train your brain to master this English pattern. Let's get started. It's about time you went to bed. Lucy. You have to get up early for school tomorrow. It's about time this president did something good for this country. He hasn't done anything so far. The dog stinks. It's about time you cleaned it, George. I always do the same boring things every week, every month and every year. I think it's about time I had some excitement in my life. The hole in the roof is getting bigger and bigger. It's about time we fixed it, Joe. It's about time that you started working hard. There are important exams next year. I know mislaid. I'll try harder in future. Jane, you're still single. I think it's about time that you got married and settled down. Kate. It's about time we went for a health checkup. It's been a year since the last one. You're right. I'll call the hospital today. It's 11 oclock. It's about time I had a cup of coffee. I haven't had one all morning. I think it's about time that we told Timmy the truth about Santa Claus. He's 15 years old now. 3. It's about time that... Listening (Practice 2): listening practice for. It's about time that listen to what I say. Then pause the video and write down what you hear. Press play to see the text on the screen and check your answer. Train your brain to master this English pattern. Let's begin. It's about time I went on a diet. I'm getting a little too fat. I think it's about time I went on a diet. I'm getting a little too fat, I think. Lisa, it's about time. You through some of these clothes away. You never wear them and they're taking up lots of space. Lisa, it's about time. You through some of these clothes away. You never wear them and they're taking up lots of space. We've been working on this for hours. I think it's about time we took a break and eights and dinner. You're right. It's almost 10 PM Let's order a pizza. We've been working on this for hours. I think it's about time we took a break and ate some dinner. You're right. It's almost 10 PM Let's order a pizza. I think it's about time that we started using other energy sources instead of coal and gas . The pollution is getting bad. I think it's about time that we started using other energy sources instead of coal and gas . The pollution is getting bad. It's about time that cruel sports such as bullfighting, What band? It's not fair on the animals. It's about time that cruel sports such as bullfighting were banned. It's not fair on the animals we've bean together for eight years. I think it's about time we bought a house together. I want to, but houses are so expensive. We've been together for eight years. I think it's about time we bought a house together. I want to, but houses are so expensive, you always blame your boss, your wife and your friends. It's about time you started taking responsibility yourself. Instead of blaming others, you always blame your boss, your wife and your friends. It's about time you started taking responsibility yourself instead of blaming others. Look at my hair. It's terrible. It's about time. I went to the hair salon and got it styled. Look at my hair. It's terrible. It's about time. I went to the hair salon and got it styled. This road is dangerous. The cars drive down here so quickly It's about time the government installed speed cameras . This road is dangerous. The cars drive down hiss so quickly. It's about time the government installed speed cameras. George, you're nearly 75 years old now. It's about time you retired and relaxed instead of working hard every day. Oh, no. I love my job. I never want to retire. George, you're nearly 75 years old now. It's about time you retired and relaxed instead of working hard every day. Oh, no. I love my job. I never want to retire.