ملخص الدرس / الثالثة ثانوي/اللغة الإنجليزية/Grammar/wish- It’s high time- it’s about time

We use wish +past simple to express a regret about a present situation by imagining its opposite.

We use wish+would to express a desire for change in the near future.

We use wish+past perfect to express a regret about something in the past.

It’s high time/It’s about time:

It’s about time /it’s high time +past simple to express strong criticism that something should have been done earlier then now.

       Isolation:

Citizens had better stop shrugging their shoulders at bureaucratic abuse.

They had better not say that the fight against corruption is not their own business.

Analysis: The learners are invited to analyze the following statements.

Citizens        had better stop       shrugging their shoulders at bureaucratic abuse.

     ↓                    ↓                                                                 ↓   

 Subject              Verb                                 The rest of the sentence

Had better + stop (stem) ☛ express strong advice/recommendation.

 Stating rule :

Had better express strong advice or recommendation .It has the same meaning of Should/ought to

e.g. you     should/   Ought to  /had better  play well in the match; otherwise you might lose the game.

The short form of had better is‘d better, it is only used with personal pronouns

e.g. Y’d better start revising.

The negative form of had better is  had better not/  ‘d better not