It's time to go or time you went?

Imagine a child normally goes to bed at 10 o'clock. He is playing his favourite video game when his mother interrupts him and says:

Come on, Pablito. It's time to go to bed.   (it's the right time)

Half an hour later and Pablito is still playing his video game. His mother says:

Pablito, it's time you went to bed. / it's time you were going to bed. (it's late and he should have gone to bed by now)


Imagine you car is quite dirty.

It's time you cleaned your car.

But you are busy and it is even dirtier.

Isn't it about time you cleaned your car?

But still you leave it. Now it's filthy.

It's high time you cleaned your car. (I should have cleaned it ages ago)


It's (about/high) time + person + past.


What is it time you or others did? What should you have done long ago?

Comments

peekandpack said…
Thanks for your blog, it's very important for me, I can study english when I'm very busy.
Sorry, I couldn't go to class the last week and yesterday. I've too much work in this time.
But, I try to read the blog everyday.
See you tomorrow
Graham said…
That's ggod to hear, Susana.

Remember to drop me a line here, whenever you read a post.

I hope that you are making good use of all the links that you find in the blog, especially those of the BBC.


Sorry, I couldn't go to class LAST week and yesterday. I HAVE too much work THESE DAYS.

I'll send you a mail telling you what we've been doing in the last few classes.

See you tomorrow.
Carol said…
I can´t talk very much with you because it´s time to go to have lunch. However, it´s high time I made my bed because I woke up at 10 o´clock. It´s about time I took off my pijama.´It´s time to write your blog before have lunch.
Graham said…
It´s about time I took off my PYJAMAS. It´s time to write your blog before HAVING LUNCH.

Good use of "time" expressions.

It's time I finished this and went to bed. I'm absolutely exhausted. I've had a tiring weekend.

See you tomorrow.
Marta said…
What is it time you or others did? What should you have done long ago?

-It's high time I had an steady job.
-It's about time the National Library changed the chairs.
-It's time the weather to be hot. (????) (I mean the weather should be smoother in march).
Graham said…
There must be a complaint form at the library. People usually spend a long time there so the chairs should be comfy.

It's time IT WAS WARMER. It should be MILDER BY NOW.

I agree. I'm fed up with it being so cold.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham! It's Inés.

It's time I started to study Chemistry.
It's time she cut her hair, it's incredibly long!
It's time we tidied the house.

It's about time you went home, it's almost eleven o'clock!
It's high time you gave her a present, her birthday was six months ago!

See you soon,
Inés
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham! It's Alicia.
I wrote a comment on Monday but I think it didn't arrive to you, so here are some sentences:
- It's time you returned me the book.
- It's time they left school.
- It's high time you cooked dinner. I'm hungry!
- It's about time she done her homework.

See you,
Alicia
Graham said…
Hi Inés,

100%. Perfect.

Graham said…
Hi Alicia,

I don't know what the problem could be - make sure that you copy and paste any comments into a Word document.

... but I think it didn't arrive/ you didn't get it, so here are some sentences:
- It's time you returned the book to me / gave me back the book.

- It's about time she did her homework.

Well done!
Unknown said…
My examples:

1) I am twenty-three years old so it's time to travel around the world without responsabilities.
2) Nevertheless, it's time I did an Erasmus because I have already finished my University years.
3) Also, I would have loved going to Disneyland but it's high time I went there.
Graham said…
Hi María,

It's time I responded to you. I've been busy.

1) I am twenty-three years old so it's time to travel around the world without responsibilities.

3) I would also love to have gone to Disneyland so it's high time I went there.


I think you should take advantage of your youth and go to live and work in other countries. It's a rewarding experience.

Unknown said…
Very useful! Popi
Graham said…
Hello Popi,

I hope to hear you using this structure in class.
María Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

It's time I studied english before, now I'm in rush.
It's high time we ate the food, now it's expired.
It's time you had a shower after doing sports/having done sports.
Graham said…
Evening María,

It's time I studied English. (= I should have done it before.) Now I'm in a rush.
It's high time we ate the food. It's almost past its use-by date.
It's time you had a shower. You finished exercising ages ago.

I reckon you need to practise this a bit more.