It's Time

B2 · Upper IntermediateWishes & Hypotheticals

It's time we left. It's time for you to leave. A past tense for a present meaning.

What you'll learn

It's time + subject + past simple means now or the near future, not the past
It's time for + someone + to-infinitive is a more neutral alternative structure
It's high time and it's about time are more emphatic versions, often showing mild impatience or criticism
This is a fixed hypothetical structure, similar in feel to 'wish' — the past tense signals 'unreal so far,' not literal past time

A past tense that means 'now'

'It's time' followed by a subject and a past-simple verb is used to say that something should happen now, even though it hasn't yet — the action is overdue. Despite the past-tense verb, the meaning is entirely about the present or the very near future.

"It's time we left."

"It's time you grew up."

It's time for + someone + to-infinitive

A more neutral, less idiomatic alternative uses 'for' plus a person plus a to-infinitive. This version feels a little more like a plain statement of fact and less like a nudge or a complaint.

"It's time for you to leave."

"It's time for the meeting to start."

It's high time / it's about time

Adding 'high' or 'about' makes the structure more emphatic, often implying that something is overdue and the speaker is mildly impatient or critical.

"It's high time you apologized."

"It's about time you called your mother."

Real English

"It's time we made a decision."

"It's time for the kids to go to bed."

"It's high time this got fixed."

"It's about time we had a proper conversation."

Watch out

✗It's time we leave.

✓It's time we left.

Despite the present meaning, 'it's time' + subject takes past simple, not the present tense.

✗It's time to grow up you.

✓It's time for you to grow up.

The to-infinitive version needs 'for' before the person: 'it's time for you to...'

✗It's time for the meeting starts.

✓It's time for the meeting to start.

The 'for + someone + to' structure needs a to-infinitive, not a conjugated verb.

Real life — A gentle nudge

"Are you still job hunting?"

"Yeah, but honestly, it's time I updated my resume first."

"It's about time — you've been saying that for months!"

"I know, I know. This weekend, I promise."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct alternative structure with 'for.'

Exercise 4 · Choose the more emphatic sentence

Choose the more emphatic version.

Exercise 5 · Identify the actual time frame

Which time does 'It's time we left' actually refer to?

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 9 · Rewrite using 'It's time'

Rewrite using 'It's time': 'We should leave now.'

Exercise 10 · Rewrite using 'It's time for...to'

Rewrite using 'It's time for + someone + to': 'You should go home.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

It's time we left.

It's time you grew up.

It's time for us to leave.

It's time for you to grow up.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

It's time + subject + past simple means now or the near future, despite the past tense.
It's time for + someone + to-infinitive is a more neutral alternative.
It's high time / it's about time add emphasis and mild impatience.
This is a fixed hypothetical structure — the past tense doesn't refer to real past time.

Upper IntermediateWishes & Hypotheticals

Would Rather

Learn when 'would rather' takes a bare infinitive and when it takes a past-simple verb, depending on whose action you're talking about.

IntermediateWishes & Hypotheticals

If Only

Learn how 'if only' works like 'wish' but sounds more emphatic and emotional, often standing alone as an exclamation.

AdvancedWishes & Hypotheticals

As If / As Though

Learn how 'as if' and 'as though' shift the verb into the past to signal an unreal or imagined comparison — present or past.

IntermediateWishes & Hypotheticals

Wish

Learn how to use 'wish' to talk about a present wish, a past regret, or a complaint about someone's behavior.