Question

It's high time you _________ smoking.

• A. stop
• B. had stopped
• C. stopped
• D. have stopped

Answer 1

Answer:

C. stopped

The phrase "It's high time" is followed by a past simple tense, even though the meaning is present or future. It expresses that something should have already happened.

• ❌ "stop" – present tense (wrong)

• ❌ "had stopped" – past perfect (too far in time)

• ✅ "stopped" – simple past (correct for this structure)

• ❌ "have stopped" – present perfect (wrong tense here)