Complete Grammar Syllabus (145 Units)

Grammar Mastery

Comprehensive reference, real-world IELTS band-boosting tips, clear structural formulas, and interactive short quizzes for intermediate to advanced English learners.

Advice & Urgent Action: Should, Had Better & "It's time"

Giving recommendations with should/ought to, urgent warnings with had better, and criticizing delay with "it's time + past".

Core Structure & Formula

Advice: Subject + should / ought to + Infinitive

Past Regret: Subject + should have + Past Participle (I shouldn't have skipped breakfast)

Specific Warning: Subject + 'd better (not) + Infinitive without to (You'd better leave now)

Complaint / Urgency: It's time + Subject + Past Simple (It's time you started revising)

AShould vs. Had Better

'Should' gives general good advice. 'Had better' is for a specific urgent situation where negative consequences will occur if ignored.

•You spend too much time indoors. You should exercise more often. (general advice)

•The exam starts at 8.30. You'd better leave now or you'll miss the registration. (urgent warning)

•We'd better bring a raincoat. The forecast says it might rain.

BIt's time somebody did something

We use past tense after 'It's time', but the meaning is present or urgent future. Often expresses mild criticism.

•This backlog can't continue. It's time you dealt with it.

•It's late. It's time we left for the airport.

•Omar keeps postponing his thesis, but it's about time he started writing it.

IELTS Band 7–9 Exam Impact

In IELTS Writing Task 2 recommendations section ("Governments should implement...") and Speaking Part 3 policy solutions.

Common Candidate Errors

✗ You had better to leave now.

✓ You had better leave now.

'Had better' is followed by the bare infinitive without 'to'.

✗ It's time we go to the airport.

✓ It's time we went to the airport.

The structure 'It's time somebody...' requires the past subjunctive form.

Unit 35 Interactive Short Quiz

Test your understanding with 3 verified practice exercises.

Question 1 of 3

My flight boards in twenty minutes. I ______ now or I'll miss it.

Question 2 of 3

It's 11 p.m. and the report is due tomorrow. It's time we ______ working on it.

Question 3 of 3

You missed an excellent workshop yesterday. You ______ !