Unit 35. Had better, It's time ...
Unit 35; Part 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 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):
• 'Are you going out tonight?' 'I'd better not. I've got a lot to do.'
• You don't look very well. You'd better not go to work today.
Remember 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 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)
Unit 35; Part 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. / 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 only means '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 be late.
Unit 35; Part C

You can say It's time (for somebody) to ... :
• 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.
Here we use the past (went), but the meaning is present, 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 already done it 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.
• You're very selfish. It's time you realised that you're not the most important person in the world.
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.
Exercises
![]() | Unit 34 Unit 35 Unit 36 | ![]() |
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