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Unit 35 · Modals

I'd better ... it's time ...

Study

A

I'd better do something = it is advisable to do it. If I don't do it, there will be a problem or a danger:

›

I have to meet Amy 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):

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a: That jacket looks good on you. Are you going to buy it? b: I'd better not. It's very expensive.

›

You don't look very well. You'd better not go out tonight.

Remember that:

I'd better = I had better, you'd better = you had better etc.

›

I'd better phone Chris, hadn't I?

›

We had better go now.

Had is normally past, but we use had better for the present or future, not past.

›

I'd better go 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 is similar to should but not exactly the same. We use had better only for a specific situation, not for things in general. You can use should in all types of situations to give an opinion or give advice:

›

It's late. You'd better go. or You should go. (a specific situation)

›

It's late. You'd better go. or You should go. (a specific situation)

›

You're always at home. You should go out more often. (in general – not 'had better go')

Also, with had better, there is always a danger or a problem if you don't follow the advice. Should means only 'it is a good thing to do'. Compare:

›

It's a great film. You should go and see it. (but no problem if you don't)

›

The film starts at 8.30. You'd better go now or you'll miss the beginning.

C

You can say It's time (for somebody) to … :

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It's time to go home. / It's time for us to go home.

›

It's time to go home. / It's time for us to go home.

But you can also say:

›

It's late. It's time we went home.

When we use it's time + past ('it's time we went' etc.), the meaning is present, not past:

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It's time they were here. Why are they so late? (not It's time they are here)

It's time somebody did something = they should have already done it or started it. We often use this structure to criticise or to complain:

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This situation can't continue. It's time you did something about it.

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He's very selfish. It's time he realised that he isn't the most important person in the world.

You can also say It's about time … :

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Jack is a great talker, but it's about time he did something instead of just talking.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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35.1

Read the situations and write sentences with 'd better or 'd better not. Choose a verb from: check disturb go put reserve take

checkdisturbgoputreservetake
  1. 1
    You're going out for a walk with a friend. It looks as if it might rain.
    You say: We'd better an umbrella.example
  2. 2
    You and Kate plan to go to a restaurant tonight. It will be busy.
    You say to Kate: We a table.
  3. 3
    Oliver has just cut himself. It's bleeding and he'll need a plaster on it.
    You say to him: You on it.
  4. 4
    Rebecca doesn't look well this morning – not well enough to go to work.
    You say to her: to work this morning.
  5. 5
    You're going to the cinema, but you're not sure what time the film starts.
    You say: what time the film starts.
  6. 6
    You need to talk to your boss, but she's very busy right now.
    You say to a colleague: her right now.
35.2

Is had better OK in these sentences? Change to should where necessary.

  1. 1
    I have an appointment in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late. example
  2. 2
    You'd better set your alarm. You have to get up early tomorrow.
  3. 3
    I'm glad you came to see us. You'd better come more often.
  4. 4
    She'll be sad if we don't invite her to the party, so we'd better invite her.
  5. 5
    It's nearly time to go out. I'd better get ready.
  6. 6
    I think everybody had better learn a foreign language.
  7. 7
    We've just missed the last bus. We'd better get a taxi.
35.3

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

betterdodidhadhadn'tI'dnottotakeshouldwaswere
  1. 1
    It might rain. We'd better an umbrella.example
  2. 2
    Ben needs to know what happened. Somebody better tell him.
  3. 3
    We'd better park the car here. The road is too narrow.
  4. 4
    You brush your teeth at least twice a day.
  5. 5
    What are we going to do? It's time decide.
  6. 6
    better not be late. It's an important meeting.
  7. 7
    It's time they here. They promised they wouldn't be late.
  8. 8
    The window is open. You'd close it before you go out.
  9. 9
    We'd better leave as soon as possible, we?
  10. 10
    The government should something about the problem.
  11. 11
    It's time the government something about the problem.
  12. 12
    It's time something done about the problem.
35.4

Read the situations and write sentences with It's time (somebody did something).

  1. 1
    You're at a friend's house. You planned to go home at 11 o'clock. It's already 11 o'clock now.
    (I / go) example
  2. 2
    You haven't had a holiday for a very long time. You need one now.
    (I / holiday)
  3. 3
    It's 10 o'clock. It's after the children's bedtime. You think they should be in bed.
    (children / bed)
  4. 4
    You didn't realise it was so late. You need to start cooking dinner.
    (start / cook)
  5. 5
    Kate is always complaining about everything. You think she complains too much.
    (stop / complaining)
  6. 6
    The company you work for has been badly managed for a long time. You think some changes should be made.
    (changes / make)