Unit 65

Had better do something It's time someone did something

(a) Had better do something

Значение had better (I'd better) соответствует

значению should. `I'd better do something' =

Мне следует сделать что-то либо мне рекомендуется

сделать что-то; Если я не сделаю этого, может

случиться что-то плохое:

- I have to meet Tom 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've almost run out of petrol. We'd better stop at the next petrol

station to fill up.

Отрицательная форма:

had better not('d better not):

- You don't look very well. You'd better not go to work today.

- `Are you going out tonight?' `I'd better not. I've got a lot of work to

do.'

Форма постоянно: `had better' (в разговорном

обычно 'd better). Мы говорим had хотя имеем в

виду настоящее или будущее, но не прошедшее время:

- I'd better go to the bank this afternoon.

Помните, что после had better инфинитив

употребляется без частицы to:

- It might rain. We'd better take an umbrella. (но не 'better to take')

(b) It's time ...

Можно сказать

it's time (кому-либо) to do что-либо:

- It's time to go home.

- It's time for us to go home.

Вот другая конструкция.

It's time someone did something:

- It's nearly midnight. It's time we went home.

В конструкции It's time someone ...используется

прошедшее время (went), хотя имеется в виду

настоящее или будущее, но не прошедшее время:

- Why are you still in bed? It's time you got up. (но не `time you get up')

Мы применяем конструкцию

It's time someone did something особенно в тех

случаях, когда жалуемся на кого-либо или порицаем

кого-либо, или когда мы думаем, что кому-то уже

следовало сделать что-то:

- It's time the children were in bed. It's long after their bedtime.

- You've been wearing the same clothes for ages. Isn't it time you bought

some new ones?

- I think it's time the government did something about pollution.

Мы также говорим `It's high time someone did something.'

`It's about time.'

Таким образом мы усиливаем выражение своего

недовольства или порицания:

- You're very selfish. It's high time you realised that you're not the

most important person in the world.

- It's about time Jack did some work for his examinations.