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 danger:
I have to meet Amy in 10 minutes. I’d better go now or I’ll be late.
“Do you think I should take an umbrella?” “Yes, you’d better. It might rain.”
We’d better stop for gas soon. The rank is almost empty.
The negative is I’d better not (= I had better not):
“Are you going out tonight?” “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.
Remember that:
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The form is “had better” (usually I’d better / you’d better, etc. , in spoken English):
– I’d better go now = I had better go now.
Had is normally past, but the meaning of had better 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)
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B
Had better and should
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 cold. You’d better wear a coat when you go out. (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 only means “it is a goog thing to do.” Compare:
It’s a great movie. You should go and see it. (but no problem if you don’t)
The movie 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, not past:
– It’s 10:00 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 already done it or started it.
We often use this structure to criticize or to complain:
– It’s time you changed the oil in the car. It hasn’t been changed in a long time.
– The windows are very dirty. I think it’s time they were washed.
You can also say It’s about time … This makes the criticism stronger:
– Jack is a great talker. But it’s about time he did something instead of just talking.
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