By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The English language, with all its rules and quirks, often challenges both learners and professionals alike. One such curious phrase that causes confusion, even among journalists and public speakers, is the expression “high time.” While it is frequently used in speeches, essays, and news commentaries, its correct grammatical structure is rarely understood — and seldom explained.
Let’s explore this phrase and why it’s high time we learned how to use it correctly.
What Does “High Time” Mean?
The expression “high time” is used to indicate that something should have happened already — that it is not just the right time, but rather long overdue. For instance:
“It is high time we addressed the erratic power supply in the country.”
In this sentence, the speaker is expressing urgency and overdue need — the action should have been taken before now.
Why the Past Tense?
Here’s where the confusion usually begins.
If we are talking about something that should be done now or soon, why do we use a verb in the past tense?
Grammatically, “high time” introduces what’s called a subjunctive mood. In English, the subjunctive is used to express wishes, hypotheticals, demands, or situations contrary to reality — all of which often involve verbs in the past form, even when talking about present or future matters.
For example:
“It is high time we took our studies seriously.”
“It’s high time he apologized.”
“It’s high time they left.”
In all the examples above, the action has not yet occurred, but should have — and that is why the verb takes the past form.
Subjunctive Mood: Not Just Fancy Grammar
Think of the subjunctive as a special voice English uses when we’re not talking about what is happening, but about what should be, could be, or ought to have happened. Other common expressions that use the subjunctive include:
“I wish I were taller.” (Not “was”)
“If I were you, I’d study more.”
“She insists that he be present.” (Not “is”)
So when you say “It is high time we narrated our grievance,” you’re not saying the narration has happened — you’re saying it should have happened already. Hence, the past form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wrong: It is high time we narrate our grievances.
Correct: It is high time we narrated our grievances.
Wrong: It’s high time the school improves its facilities.
Correct: It’s high time the school improved its facilities.
Using the present tense with “high time” weakens the urgency and breaks grammatical accuracy. It’s like having the right key, but forcing it into the wrong lock.
Why This Matters — Especially for Journalists
As custodians of public information and educators in their own right, journalists must model proper usage of language. Unfortunately, many journalists and writers either misuse “high time” or cannot explain its grammatical basis. This is where our language education must improve, starting with the students who will become tomorrow’s communicators.
The phrase “high time” is more than a stylistic choice — it’s a grammatical structure with a specific rule. Understanding why it takes the past tense not only helps avoid mistakes, but empowers speakers and writers to use the language more effectively.
So yes — it is high time we corrected this common mistake and helped others do the same.
