He _should be wearing a helmet._
3. When we got to the restaurant, there were no free tables. We hadn't reserved one. We ---.
4. The notice says that the shop is open every day from 8.30. It is 9 o'clock now but the shop isn't open yet. ---.
5. The speed limit is 30 miles an hour, but Catherine is doing 50.
She ---.
6. I went to Paris. A friend of mine lives in Paris but I didn't go to see him while I was there.
When I saw him later, he said: You ---.
7. I was driving behind another car. Suddenly, the driver in front stopped without warning and I drove into the back of his car. It wasn't my fault ---.
8. I walked into a wall. I wasn't looking where I was going.
---.
UNIT 34. Should (2)
A. You can use should after a number of verbs, especially:
suggest propose recommend insist demand
* They insisted that we should have dinner with them.
* I demanded that he should apologise.
* What do you suggest I should do?
In the same way, you can use should after suggestion/proposal/recommendation etc.
* What do you think of Jane's suggestion that I should buy a car?
and also after 'it's important/vital/necessary/essential that ...'
* It's essential that you should be here on time.
B. You can also leave out should in all the sentences in Section A:
* It's essential that you be here on time. (= that you should be here)
* I demanded that he apologise.
* What do you suggest I do?
This form (you be/he apologise etc.) is sometimes called the subjunctive.
You can also use normal present and past tenses:
* It's essential that you are here on time.
* I demanded that he apologised.
Be careful with suggest. You cannot use to ... ('to do/to buy' etc.) after suggest:
* What do you suggest we should do?
or What do you suggest we do? (but not 'What do you suggest us to do?')
* Jane suggested that I (should) buy a car.
or Jane suggested that I bought a car. (but not 'Jane suggested me to buy')
For suggest ~ing, see Unit 52.
C. You can use should after a number of adjectives, especially:
strange odd funny typical natural interesting surprised surprising
* It's strange that he should be late. He's usually on time.
* I was surprised that she should say such a thing.
D. If ... should...
You can say 'If something should happen...'. For example:
* If Tom should phone while I'm out, tell him I'll phone him back later.
'If Tom should phone' is similar to 'If Tom phones'. With should, the speaker feels that the possibility is smaller. Another example:
* I've left the washing outside. If it should rain, can you bring it in?
You can also put should at the beginning of these sentences (Should something happen ...):
* Should Tom phone, can you tell him I'll phone him back later?
E. You can use I should .../I shouldn't ... to give somebody advice. For example:
* 'Shall I leave now?' 'No, I should wait a bit longer.'
Here, 'I should wait'= 'I would wait if I were you, I advise you to wait'. Two more examples:
* It's very cold this morning. I should wear a coat when you go out.
* I shouldn't stay up too late. You'll be tired tomorrow.
EXERCISES
34.1 Write a sentence (beginning in the way shown) that means the same as the first sentence.
1. 'I think it would be a good idea to see a specialist,' the doctor said to me.
The doctor recommended that I should see a specialist.
2. 'You really must stay a little longer,' she said to me.
She insisted that ---.
3. 'Why don't you visit the museum after lunch?' I said to them.
I suggested that ---.
4. 'You must pay the rent by Friday,' the landlord said to us.
The landlord demanded that ---.
5. 'Why don't you go away for a few days?'Jack said to me.
Jack suggested that ---.
34.2 Are these sentences right or wrong?
1. a Tom suggested that I should look for another job. RIGHT
b Tom suggested that I look for another job. ---
c Tom suggested that I looked for another job. ---
d Tom suggested me to look for another job. ---.
2. a Where do you suggest I go for my holiday? ---
b Where do you suggest me to go for my holiday? ---
c Where do you suggest I should go for my holiday? ---
34.3 Complete the sentences using should + one of these verbs:
ask be leave listen say worry
1. It's strange that she _should be_ late. She's usually on time.
2. It's funny that you --- that. I was going to say the same thing.
3. It's only natural that parents --- about their children.
4. Isn't it typical of Ron that he --- without saying goodbye to anybody?
5. I was surprised that he --- me for advice. What advice could I give him?
6. It's very important that everybody --- very carefully.
34.4 Complete these sentences using if ... should... .
1. (It's possible that you'll see Tom this evening.)
_If you should see Tom this evening_, can you ask him to phone me?
2. (It's possible that Ann will arrive before I get home.)
If ---, can you look after her until I come?
3. (Perhaps there will be some letters for me while I'm away.)
---, can you send them on to this address?
4. (I don't suppose you'll need help but you might.)
---, let me know.
Write sentences 3 and 4 again, this time beginning with should.
5. (3) ---, can you send them on to this address?
6. (4) ---.
34.5 (Section E) Complete the sentences using I should + one of these verbs:
buy keep phone wait
1. 'Shall I leave now?' 'No, _I should wait_ a bit longer.'
2. 'Shall I throw these things away?' 'No --- them. You may need them.'
3. 'Shall I go and see Paul?' 'Yes, but --- him first.'
4. 'Do you think it's worth repairing this TV set?' 'No --- a new one.'
UNIT 35. Had better it's time
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 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):
* A: Are you going out tonight?
B: 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.
You can use had better when you warn somebody that they must do something:
* You'd better be on time./You'd better not be late. (or I'll be very angry)
Note 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 a past form, but in this expression the meaning 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')
B. Had better and should
Had better is similar to should (see Unit 33A) but not exactly the same.
We use had better only for a particular situation (not for things in general).
You can use should in all types of situation to give an opinion or to give advice:
* It's cold today. You'd better wear a coat when you go out. (a particular situation)
* I think all drivers should wear seat belts. (in general - not 'had better wear')
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 danger, no problem if you don't)
* The film 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 or future, 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 done it already 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.
* The windows are very dirty. I think it's time we cleaned them.
You can also say: It's about time.../It's high time... . This makes the criticism stronger:
* Jack is a great talker. But it's about time he did something instead of )'just talking.
* You're very selfish. It's high time you realised that you're not the most important person in the world.
EXERCISES
35.1 Complete the sentences. Sometimes you need only one word, sometimes two.
1. a I need some money. I'd better _go_ to the bank.
b John is expecting you to phone him. You --- better do it now.
c 'Shall I leave the window open?' 'No, you'd better --- it.'
d We'd better leave as soon as possible, --- we?
2. a It's time the government --- something about the problem.
b It's time something --- about the problem.
c I think it's about time you --- about me instead of only thinking about
yourself.
35.2 Read the situations and write sentences with had better. Use the words in brackets.
1. You're going out for a walk with Tom. It might rain. You say to Tom:
(an umbrella) We'd better take an umbrella.
2. Jack has just cut himself. It's quite a bad cut. You say to him:
(a plaster) ---
3. You and Ann plan to go to a restaurant this evening. It's a very popular restaurant. You say to Ann: (reserve) We ---
4. Jill doesn't look very well - not well enough to go to work. You say to her:
(work) ---
5. You received your phone bill four weeks ago but you haven't paid it yet. If you don't pay very soon, you could be in trouble. You say to yourself: (pay)
---
6. You want to go out but you're expecting an important phone call. You say to your friend: (go out) I ---
7. You and Fiona are going to the theatre. You've missed the bus and you don't want to be late.
You say to Fiona: (a taxi) ---
35.3 Put in had better or should. Sometimes either is possible.
1. I have an appointment in ten minutes. _I'd better_ go now or I'll be late.
2. It's a great film. You _should_ go and see it. You'll really like it.
3. I --- get up early tomorrow. I've got a lot to do.
4. When people are driving, they --- keep their eyes on the road.
5. Thank you for coming to see us. You --- come more often.
6. She'll be upset if we don't invite her to the wedding, so we --- invite her.
7. These biscuits are delicious. You --- try one.
8. I think everybody --- learn a foreign language.
35.4 Read the situations and write sentences with It's time (somebody did something).
1. You think the children should be in bed. It's already 11 o'clock.
_It's time the children were in bed._
2. You haven't had a holiday for a very long time. You need one now.
It's time I ---
3. You're waiting for Mary. She is late. Why isn't she here yet?
It's time she ---
4. You're sitting on a train waiting for it to leave the station. It's already five minutes late.
5. You enjoy having parties. You haven't had one for a long time.
6. The company you work for is badly run. You think there should be some changes.
UNIT 36. Can/Could/Would you ...? etc.
(Requests, offers, permission and invitations)
A. Asking people to do things (requests)
We often use can or could to ask people to do things:
* Can you wait a moment, please? or Could you wait a moment, please?
* Liz, can you do me a favour?
* Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the airport?
* I wonder if you could help me.
Note that we say 'Do you think (you) could ...? (not usually 4can'):
* Do you think you could lend me some money until next week?
We also use will and would to ask people to do things (but can/could are more usual):
* Liz, will you do me a favour?
* Would you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.
B. Asking for things
To ask for something we use Can I have ...? or Could I have ...?:
* (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please?
* (during a meal) Could I have the salt, please?
May I have ...? is also possible (but less usual):
* May I have these postcards, please?
C. Asking for and giving permission
To ask for permission to do something, we use can, could or may:
* (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Tom, please?
* 'Could I use your phone?' 'Yes, of course.'
* Do you think I could borrow your bike?
* 'May I come in?' 'Yes, please do.'
To give permission, we use can or may.
* You can use the phone. or You may use the phone.
May is formal and less usual than can or could.
D. Offering to do things To offer to do something, we sometimes use Can I ...?:
* 'Can I get you a cup of coffee?' 'Yes, that would be very nice.'
* 'Can I help you?' 'No, it's all right. I can manage.'
You can also use I'll ... to offer to do things (see Unit 21C):
* You look tired. I'll get you a cup of coffee.
E. Offering and inviting
To offer or to invite we use Would you like ...? (not do you like)
* 'Would you like a cup of coffee?' 'Yes, please.'
* 'Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow evening?' 'Yes, I'd love to.'
I'd like... is a polite way of saying what you want:
* (at a tourist information office) I'd like some information about hotels, please.
* (in a shop) I'd like to try on this jacket, please.
EXERCISES
36.1 Read the situations and write questions beginning Can ... or Could ...
1. You're carrying a lot of things. You can't open the door yourself. There's a man standing near the door. You say to him: _Could you open the door, please?_
2. You phone Ann but somebody else answers. Ann isn't there. You want to leave a message for her. You say: ---
3. You are a tourist. You want to go to the station but you don't know where it is. You ask at your hotel. You say: ---
4. You are in a clothes shop. You see some trousers you like and you want to try them on. You say to the shop assistant: ---
5. You have a car. You have to go to the same place as John, who hasn't got a car. You want to give him a lift. You say to John: ---
36.2 Read the situations and write questions beginning Do you think ...
1. You want to borrow your friend's camera. What do you say to him?
Do you think _I could borrow your camera?_
2. You are at a friend's house and you want to use her phone. What do you say?
3. You've written a letter in English. Before you send it, you want an English friend to check it. What do you ask him?
4. You want to leave work early because you have some things to do. What do you ask your boss?
5. The woman in the next room is playing music. It's very loud. You want her to turn it down. What do you say to her?
6. You are phoning the owner of a flat which was advertised in a newspaper. You are interested in the flat and you want to come and see it today. What do you say to the owner?
36.3 What would you say in these situations?
1. John has come to see you in your flat. You offer him something to eat.
YOU: ---
JOHN: No, thank you. I'm not hungry.
2. You need help to change the film in your camera. You ask Ann.
You: Ann, I don't know how to change the film. ---
ANN: Sure. It's easy. All you have to do is this.