It is high time you … visiting that friend of yours.

1. Analyze the question The sentence is "It is high time you _ visiting that friend of yours." This tests the structure "It is (high/about) time + subject + past tense verb".

2. Explain the concept After "It is time / high time / about time", we use the simple past tense to talk about something that should be happening now or should have started already. The past form does not refer to past time. It expresses a sense of urgency or mild criticism.

Examples:

• It is high time you went to bed. (not "go")
• It is about time he learned to drive.
• It is time we left.

There is another pattern: "It is time to + infinitive" (e.g., "It is time to stop"). It uses no subject before the verb.

3. Step-by-step solution

• Look at the phrase "It is high time you ___". The subject "you" comes directly after "time".
• That means the verb must be in the past tense.
• Check the options: • A. stopped: past tense, correct. • B. should stop: this would be a double construction. "High time" already carries the idea of "should", so it is redundant. Standard grammar prefers the past form. • C. stop: present tense, wrong after "high time you". • D. must stop: wrong for the same reason as B, and it is also too strong.

(Note: "It is high time you should stop" does appear in some grammar books as acceptable, but the standard answer tested in exams is the past tense form.)

4. Answer The correct option is A. stopped.

Full sentence: It is high time you stopped visiting that friend of yours.

5. Exam tip Remember the trigger words: "It is (high/about) time + subject" means past tense verb. When you see this in JAMB, look for the simple past option first.