| 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 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):
- ‘The jacket looks good on you. Are you going to buy it?’ ‘I'd better not. It's too expensive.’
- You don't look very well. You'd better not go out tonight.
Remember that:
The form is ‘had better’ (usually ‘I'd better / you'd better’ etc. in spoken English).
- I'd better phone Chris, 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)
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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 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 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 be late.
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| C |
It's time ...
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.
When we use it's time + past (we went / I did / they were etc.), the meaning is present, not past:
- 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:
- This situation can't continue. It's time you did something about it.
- 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 ... . 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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