How to use "it is time"

What Does "it is time" Mean?

Grammatical function: "It is time" serves as an idiomatic introductory construction (often using a dummy "it") that expresses necessity, urgency, or the appropriate moment for an action to occur. It functions as a temporal marker that signals a transition or a call to action.
Typical sentence position: It is most commonly found in the initial position of a sentence or a main clause. However, it can appear in a final position for emphatic effect in short sentences.
Register: It is generally neutral, making it equally effective in casual conversation, journalism, and formal speeches.

How to Use It

Syntactic patterns: There are three primary patterns:
1. It is time + to-infinitive: "It is time to go."
2. It is time + for + noun/pronoun: "It is time for a change."
3. It is time + subject + past subjunctive: "It is time we left."
Punctuation rules: When starting a sentence, it usually requires no comma immediately after it. If used as an exclamation, it is often followed by an exclamation mark.
Grammatical flexibility: It can be modified for emphasis (e.g., "It is high time" or "It is about time"). It can also be used as a predicate adjective phrase (e.g., "The project is time-consuming").
What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using the present tense after a subject-led clause (e.g., "It is time we go") is a common error; the past tense is required to convey the subjunctive mood.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from it is time on Ludwig.guru.

"It is time to act." — nytimes.com

"It is time for new engagement." — unicef.org

"It is time politicians responded." — nytimes.com

"It is time they fended for themselves." — economist.com

"It is time!" — economist.com

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
it is high time	Adds a stronger sense of urgency or criticism that an action is overdue.
the moment has arrived	More formal and dramatic; used for significant events.
it is appropriate that	Highly formal; focuses on the suitability of the timing.
time is of the essence	Idiomatic and professional; used to emphasize that speed is required.
it's about time	Informal; often carries a tone of annoyance or impatience.

Common Mistakes

Tense Confusion: The most frequent error is using the present simple after a subject. Learners often forget to use the past subjunctive (e.g., 'it is time we went') instead of the present tense after this expression.
Misplacing the Preposition: Using "It is time to change" (verb) correctly, but mistakenly saying "It is time to a change" instead of "It is time for a change" (noun).
Hyphenation: Forgetting that when "time" combines with a participle to modify a noun, it needs a hyphen, such as "it is time-consuming."

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
It is time	Indicates the moment for action	Neutral	Sentence-initial

FAQs

Where can it is time appear in a sentence

The expression it is time most frequently appears at the sentence-initial position to introduce a new command or observation. It can also appear at the end of a sentence for rhetorical emphasis, or function as a standalone exclamation in urgent contexts.

How does it is time differ from it is high time

While both expressions signal that an action should happen, it is high time is much more emphatic and often implies that the action is overdue. Using it is time is a more neutral way to announce the arrival of a scheduled or appropriate moment.

What tense should I use after it is time followed by a subject

When you include a subject after the expression, you must use the past subjunctive form of the verb to indicate a hypothetical necessity. Learners often forget to use the past subjunctive (e.g., 'it is time we went') instead of the present tense after this expression.

Tools