"had better"

[e2e4]

Originally Posted by monyshygirl

thanks a lot for your help, but I'm afraid the answer to the sentence
''only after a wait of two hours did the meeting began'' and
''only after two-hour wait the meeting began.'' were wrong as I haven't got marks when answering that way.
I have one more sentence
''I had better go to the dentist's soon.''
It's.............................................. ..

It's a short time for me to go to the dentist.
better to go then not, an advice
a learner

[Jaskin]

hi
Note I'm not a teacher,

Originally Posted by monyshygirl

thanks a lot for your help, but I'm afraid the answer to the sentence
''only after a wait of two hours did the meeting began'' and
''only after a two-hour wait the meeting began.'' were wrong as I haven't got marks when answering that way.
I have one more sentence
''I had better go to the dentist's soon.''
It's.............................................. ..

It's about time for me to go to the dentists.
or
It's hight time for me to go to the dentists.

But I'm not sure about it. I think there is a slight difference in meaning.
It's about time / high time means that somebody (you) should have done something some time ago or a long time ago whereas I had better do sth sugest the necessity of doing it (going to the dentist) to avoid unpleasant consequence.

Cheers

[RonBee]

Say:

it's time that I went to the dentist.

[e2e4]

Originally Posted by Jaskin

hi
Note I'm not a teacher,



It's about time for me to go to the dentists.
or
It's hight time for me to go to the dentists.

But I'm not sure about it. I think there is a slight difference in meaning.
It's about time / high time means that somebody (you) should have done something some time ago or a long time ago whereas I had better do sth sugest the necessity of doing it (going to the dentist) to avoid unpleasant consequence.

Cheers

Originally Posted by RonBee

Say:

it's time that I went to the dentist.

I thought that in BrE the phrase
1) I had better go to the dentist isn't equal to the phrase
2) It's (high) time I went to the dentist.

1) advice to say that something should be done in the future
2) to say I am little late or late in something

a learner

[vil]

Hi

I’m not a teacher.

Originally Posted by RonBee

Say:

it's time that I went to the dentist.

Originally Posted by e2e4

I thought that in BrE the phrase
1) I had better go to the dentist isn't equal to the phrase
2) It's (high) time I went to the dentist.

Had better do something = It’s time someone did something

The meaning of had better (I’s better) is similar to should “I’d better do something” = I should do something or it is advisable for me to do something: if I don’t do this something bad might happen.

I have to meet Tom in ten minutes. I’d better go now or I’ll be late.

The form is always “had better” (usually‘d better in spoken English). We say had but the meaning is present or future, not past.

It’s time….

You can say “It’s time (for someone) to do something.

It’s time to go home.

There is another structure: “It’s time someone did something.”

It’s nearly midnight. It’s time we went home.

We use the past (went) after It’s time someone…. But the meaning is present or future, not past.

We use the structure "It’s time did something" especially when we are complaining or criticizing, or when we think someone should have already done something.

It’s time the children were in bed. It’s long past their bedtime.

We also say “It’s high time”. “It’s about time.”

This makes the complaint or criticism stronger.

Regards

V

[e2e4]

it's must for me to correct...

Originally Posted by vil

Hi

Had better do something = It’s time someone did something
This is a strong advice and not it's time someone did something.
The meaning of had better (I’s better) is similar to should “I’d better do something” No it isn't.
should ~ obligation
had better ~ strong advice
= I should do something or it is advisable for me to do something: if I don’t do this something bad might happen.

I have to meet Tom in ten minutes. I’d better go now or I’ll be late.

The form is always “had better” (usually‘d better in spoken English). We say had but the meaning is present or future, not past.

It’s time….

You can say “It’s time (for someone) to do something.

It’s time to go home. This sentence doesn't have any pattern to the phrase It's time I went home in which we use the phrase It's time + past subjunctive of the verb.

There is another structure: “It’s time someone did something.”

It’s nearly midnight. It’s time we went home. Here, went is past subjunctive form of the verb to go.

We use the past we do not use the past. We use past subjunctive form of the verb (to go, to be or any other) (went) after It’s time someone…. But the meaning is present or future, not past. this is ok.

We use the structure "It’s time did something" We use the structure It's time + past subjunctive, especially when we are complaining or criticizing, or when we think someone should have already done something.

It’s time the children were in bed. It’s long past little past their bedtime.

We also say “It’s high time”. “It’s about time.” It's about time can not substitute It's high time in the phrase It's high time children were in bed.

This makes the complaint or criticism stronger.

Regards

V

a learner from bosnia

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by StarrySkies

1) Try as I might I couldn't answer the question.

2) Only after a wait of 2 hours did the meeting begin.

3) We will still try to get a ticket even if the play is fully booked.

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by e2e4

I thought that in BrE the phrase
1) I had better go to the dentist isn't equal to the phrase
2) It's (high) time I went to the dentist.

1) advice to say that something should be done in the future
2) to say I am little late or late in something

a learner

They're not the same to me; if I suddenly lose a filling or something, then only the first would work, and, as you say, it can be used for advice. It's possible to use the first when you've been delaying something, but the second always has that meaning.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Tdol

They're not the same to me; if I suddenly lose a filling or something, then only the first would work, and, as you say, it can be used for advice. It's possible to use the first when you've been delaying something, but the second always has that meaning.

I would probably say: "I gotta go to the dentist."

[Soup]

Originally Posted by e2e4

"Had better do something = It's time someone did something." This is a strong advice and not it's time someone did something. "

I'd say you are both right.

Ex: I'd better go to the dentist before my tooth gets worse.

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Present and past subjunctive

The terms present subjunctive and past subjunctive can be misleading, as they describe forms rather than meanings: the past and present subjunctives are so called because they resemble the past and present indicatives, respectively, but the difference between them is a difference in modality, not a temporal one.
Subjunctive mood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Ex: It's high time (that) the children were in bed.
Ex: It's about time (that) the children were in bed.