High time

[Tdol]

[RonBee]

It's high time that Ron went to bed.
It's high time that Ron stopped staying up so late responding to posts.

:wink:

[Tdol]

But it's wrong to say 'It's high time to go', whereas we can say 'It's time to go'.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by tdol

But it's wrong to say 'It's high time to go', whereas we can say 'It's time to go'.

I think you're right. It would be correct usage if people said "it's high time to", but they don't.

English Idioms
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1697

Brief Verse (Couplets)
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1579

Prepositions
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishwo...main/prep.htm:)

[Tdol]

It's tested as an error in some exams here, like the Cambridge Advanced (CAE).

[ion Joe]

Dear teachers, what does "high time" mean?
Thanks!

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by ion Joe

Dear teachers, what does "high time" mean?
Thanks!

Good question! People say it is high time that something happen when it is something they think should happen and happen soon. Example:

• It is high time that Ron got off his butt and got a real job.

:wink:

[ion Joe]

Originally Posted by RonBee

Good question! People say it is high time that something happen when it is something they think should happen and happen soon. Example:

• It is high time that Ron got off his butt and got a real job.

:wink:

Thank you, RonBee! :)

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by tdol

But it's wrong to say 'It's high time to go', whereas we can say 'It's time to go'.

EX: It's high time to go. (Not OK)

I agree. To me, it seems as if the meaning expressed by the infinitive (i.e. to...) is clashing with that of the noun high time:

The infinitive marker to expresses an unrealized event. That is, the event hasn't yet happened, so tense is not required.

The noun high time means, overdue time. That is, the event, as tdol noted, should have already happened, so tense is required.

Unrealized (yet to happen)
It's time to go.
It's almost time to go.
It's nearly time to go.

Realized (should have already happened)
It's high time we left.

Expressions of realized time and unrealized time
It's high time to go. (Not OK; high time expresses past time, whereas to go expresses a non-time.)

All the best, :D

[ion Joe]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

EX: It's high time to go. (Not OK)

I agree. To me, it seems as if the meaning expressed by the infinitive (i.e. to...) is clashing with that of the noun high time:

The infinitive marker to expresses an unrealized event. That is, the event hasn't yet happened, so tense is not required.

The noun high time means, overdue time. That is, the event, as tdol noted, should have already happened, so tense is required.

Unrealized (yet to happen)
It's time to go.
It's almost time to go.
It's nearly time to go.

Realized (should have already happened)
It's high time we left.

Expressions of realized time and unrealized time
It's high time to go. (Not OK; high time expresses past time, whereas to go expresses a non-time.)

All the best, :D

I c!! Thank you, teacher Casiopea!! :D