A. Had better (I'd better/you'd better etc.)
I'd
better do something = It is advisable to do it. If I don't, there will be a
problem or a danger:
* I have
to meet Ann in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late.
* 'Shall
I take an umbrella?' 'Yes, you'd better. It might rain.'
* We'd
better stop for petrol soon. The tank is almost empty.
The
negative is I'd better not (= I had better not):
* A: Are
you going out tonight?
B: I'd
better not. I've got a lot of work to do.
* You
don't look very well. You'd better not go to work today.
You can
use had better when you warn somebody that they must do something:
* You'd
better be on time./You'd better not be late. (or I'll be very angry)
Note
that:
The form
is 'had better' (usually 'I'd better/you'd better' etc. in spoken English):
* I'd
better phone Carol, hadn't I?
Had is a
past form, but in this expression the meaning is present or future, not
past: * I'd better go to the bank
now/tomorrow.
We say
'I'd better do...' (not 'to do'):
* It
might rain. We'd better take an umbrella. (not 'we'd better to take')
B. Had
better and should
Had
better is similar to should (see Unit 33A) but not exactly the same.
We use
had better only for a particular situation (not for things in general).
You can
use should in all types of situation to give an opinion or to give advice:
* It's
cold today. You'd better wear a coat when you go out. (a particular situation)
* I
think all drivers should wear seat belts. (in general - not 'had better wear')
Also,
with had better, there is always a danger or a problem if you don't follow the advice.
Should
only means 'it is a good thing to do'. Compare.
* It's a
great film. You should go and see it. (but no danger, no problem if you don't)
* The
film starts at 8.30. You'd better go now or you'll be late.
C.
It's time ...
You can
say 'It's time (for somebody) to do something':
* It's
time to go home./It's time for us to go home.
You can
also say:
* It's
late. It's time we went home.
Here we
use the past (went) but the meaning is present or future, not past:
* It's
10 o'clock and he's still in bed. It's time he got up. (not 'It's time he gets
up')
It's
time you did something = 'you should have done it already or started it'. We
often use this structure to criticise or to complain:
* It's
time the children were in bed. It's long after their bedtime.
* The
windows are very dirty. I think it's time we cleaned them.
You can
also say: It's about time.../It's high time... . This makes the criticism
stronger:
* Jack
is a great talker. But it's about time he did something instead of )'just
talking.
* You're
very selfish. It's high time you realised that you're not the most important
person in the world.
EXERCISES
35.1
Complete the sentences. Sometimes you need only one word, sometimes two.
1. a I
need some money. I'd better _go_ to the bank.
b John
is expecting you to phone him. You --- better do it now.
c 'Shall
I leave the window open?' 'No, you'd better --- it.'
d We'd
better leave as soon as possible, --- we?
2. a
It's time the government --- something about the problem.
b It's
time something --- about the problem.
c I
think it's about time you --- about me instead of only thinking about
yourself.
35.2
Read the situations and write sentences with had better. Use the words in
brackets.
1. You're
going out for a walk with Tom. It might rain. You say to Tom:
(an
umbrella) We'd better take an umbrella.
2. Jack
has just cut himself. It's quite a bad cut. You say to him:
(a
plaster) ---
3. You
and Ann plan to go to a restaurant this evening. It's a very popular
restaurant. You say to Ann: (reserve) We ---
4. Jill
doesn't look very well - not well enough to go to work. You say to her:
(work)
---
5. You
received your phone bill four weeks ago but you haven't paid it yet. If you
don't pay very soon, you could be in trouble. You say to yourself: (pay)
---
6. You
want to go out but you're expecting an important phone call. You say to your
friend: (go out) I ---
7. You
and Fiona are going to the theatre. You've missed the bus and you don't want to
be late.
You say
to Fiona: (a taxi) ---
35.3 Put
in had better or should. Sometimes either is possible.
1. I
have an appointment in ten minutes. _I'd better_ go now or I'll be late.
2. It's
a great film. You _should_ go and see it. You'll really like it.
3. I ---
get up early tomorrow. I've got a lot to do.
4. When
people are driving, they --- keep their eyes on the road.
5. Thank
you for coming to see us. You --- come more often.
6.
She'll be upset if we don't invite her to the wedding, so we --- invite her.
7. These
biscuits are delicious. You --- try one.
8. I
think everybody --- learn a foreign language.
35.4
Read the situations and write sentences with It's time (somebody did
something).
1. You
think the children should be in bed. It's already 11 o'clock.
_It's
time the children were in bed._
2. You
haven't had a holiday for a very long time. You need one now.
It's
time I ---
3.
You're waiting for Mary. She is late. Why isn't she here yet?
It's
time she ---
4.
You're sitting on a train waiting for it to leave the station. It's already
five minutes late.
5. You
enjoy having parties. You haven't had one for a long time.
6. The
company you work for is badly run. You think there should be some changes.
the answer
35.1
1 b. had
or 'd
c. close
or shut
d.
hadn't
2 a. did
b. was
done
c.
thought
35.2
2 You'd
better put a plaster on it.
3 We'd
better reserve a table./We'd better phone to reserve ...
4 You'd
better not go to work.
5 I'd
better pay the phone bill. or ... pay my phone bill.
6 I'd
better not go out.
7 We'd
better take a taxi. or ... get a taxi
35. 3
3 had
better/'d better or should
4 should
5 should
6 had
better/'d better
7 should
8 should
35.4
2 had a
holiday.
3 was
here.
4 It's
time the train left.
5 It's
time I had a party.
6 It's
time some changes were made./It's time there were some changes.
