Dear Alexander, You are correct in using the expressions, ''It's high time I did some work.'' / ''It's about time I did some work.'' / ''I had better do some work.'' All of these versions share the same meaning of immediacy. In the past, you might say something like this: ''I felt the time was right to do some work.'' or, ''It was high time I did something about the matter.'' for example.. When using Reported Speech, one might say, ''The teacher told me (that) it was high time I did something.'' Hope this helps you in your query! Max

The point about these phrases is that they are followed by the subjunctive, which looks the same as the past tense. This form is generally invariable. It's time we left. At six o'clock I realised that it was time we left. He told us that it was time we left.

Hi, Alexander! Actually they are synonyms and yes, they do have or can be used in the past tense. The meaning has to do with the appropriate time of something that should have been done a long time ago or with something that is happening long past the right time. E.x.: It's high time I went to bed/I visited the Grand Canyon. (I should have gone to bed much earlier but since I am not in yet, then I should do it now). It's about time you told us the truth. (You should have done it long ago but better late than never). She thought it was high time she returned home. (Here the meaning could be either that she is -already late- or that now is the right moment for her to return home). They proved it was about time the officials believed them. (That is something the officials should have done a long time ago but since they didn't, they should do so now before it's too late).

High Time: Definition: "It should have happened a long time ago." Example: "It's high time you got that bad knee of yours looked at by a doctor!" We typically use "high time" to indication that you've put something off long enough, and it really should have been done long ago. You don't necessarily have to change anything when you used it in past tense either. Past Tense: Example: "I told myself years ago that it was high time I cleaned out that room." Hope this helped! -Kyle

Pretty much correct. "He told us that it was high time he learned Spanish." Both "he had done something" and. "he did something" may be correct. I'm honestly not sure, but I do know that "he did something" sounds more natural. Switching to an actual task with an action verb may make it more clear than an irregular verb like "to do." That's why I used "learned" in my example.