Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future

Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "had better" behaves in different contexts.

Use	Positive Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	Negative Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	You can also use:
had better recommendation	1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR "OUGHT TO" People should unplug toasters before they clean them.2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO HAVE" You should have unplugged the toaster before you tried to clean it. 3. You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it.	1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR "OUGHT TO" People shouldn't clean toasters without unplugging them first.2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO HAVE" You shouldn't have cleaned the toaster without unplugging it first. 3. You had better not clean the toaster until you unplug it.	should, ought to
had better desperate hope, warning	The movie had better end soon.They had better be here before we start dinner. Desperate hopes and warnings usually refer to the near future.	They had better not be late.They had better not forget Tom's birthday gift. Desperate hopes and warnings usually refer to the near future.

"Had better" is often simply pronounced as "better" in spoken English.

Should / ought to / must have + past participle

Should (Ought to) Have

Should have + past participle is used to indicate past events which did not happen, and describes a mistake or regret over it.


For Example:

You should (ought to) have checked your report thoroughly before you handed it in.

You should (ought to) have asked my permission before you used my computer. I’m really angry with you.

Note:

We use third form (verb3) of the verb after the modal "Should (Ought to) have." and there is no difference between should and ought to.

They should(Ought to) have listened to me and bought that house last year before the prices increased.

You shouldn't have been watching TV all night yesterday, that’s why you fell so tired now.

Attention!

In negative form, "Ought to" changes to "Ought not to" do not contractoughtn't.

Must Have Done 

Modal "must" has a meaning of necessity, many think that "must have V3" has the same meaning as "should have V3". However; We use must when we talk about a strong possibility based on facts referring to the past.

For Example:

I saw Cynthia crying a few minutes ago. She must have heard the bad news.

I'm quite sure that I put my phone on my desk, now that it's not there somebody must have taken it.

A: Do you know where Martin is?
B: I haven't seen him, but I'm sure he must have left the office as it's 5 o'clock already.


Attention!

Both "must have" and "should have" are perfect modals and they should be followed by past participle (verb3)

They mustn't have arrived (arrive) early, or else they would have called us.

He shouldn't have dropped (drop) out of the school. She regrets doing so now.

More examples for Should / ought to / must have + past participle

·         You should have locked the door before leaving the house. (= You did not lock the door before leaving the house, though that was very important.)

·         They should not have raised the price of essential articles. (= They raised the price of essential articles. That was not right.)

·         He must have been more careful. (= He wasn’t careful though that was absolutely necessary.)

·         He ought to have finished the job last week. (= It was absolutely necessary for him to finish the job last week, but he failed to do so.)

Read the following statements. The first is a statement. The second is a response to it.

·         I didn’t thank him.

·         You should have thanked him.

·         He didn’t ask me before borrowing my car.

·         He should have asked you before borrowing your car.

·         I told him a lie.

·         You ought not to have told him a lie.

·         She behaved rather rudely.

·         She ought not to have behaved rudely.

·         He forgot to bring his passport.

·         He should not have forgotten to bring his passport.

·         The man was under the influence of alcohol.

·         The man should not have been under the influence of alcohol.

·         The boy was rude to the old man.

·         The boy must not have been rude to the old man.

·         He did not prepare for the test.

·         He ought to have prepared for the test.

·         She took the matter too seriously.

·         She should not have taken the matter too seriously.

 Notes

Must is stronger than should. Ought to is similar to should. It is not as strong as must.

Using "Ought to" in Present, Past, and Future

Using "Ought to" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "ought to" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use	Positive Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	Negative Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	You can also use:
ought to recommendation, advice	1. Margaret ought to exercise more.2. Margaret ought to have exercised more so she would be better prepared for the marathon. 3. Margaret ought to come to the fitness center with us tonight.	1. Margaret ought not exercise too much. It might cause injury.2. Margaret ought not have run the marathon. She wasn't in good shape. 3. Margaret ought not stay at home in front of the TV. She should go to the fitness center with us.	should
ought to assumption, expectation, probability	1. She ought to have the package by now.2. She ought to have received the package yesterday. 3. She ought to receive the package tonight.	"Ought not" is used primarily to express negative recommendations. (See above.)	should

Notice "Ought not" Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not." Examples: You ought not smoke so much. She ought not take such risks while skiing. They ought not carry so much cash while traveling.

Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future

Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use	Positive Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	Negative Forms 1. = Present   2. = Past   3. = Future	You can also use:
should recommendation, advisability	1. People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat foods.2. Frank should have eaten low-fat foods. That might have prevented his heart attack. 3. You really should start eating better.	1. Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health.2. Sarah shouldn't have smoked so much. That's what caused her health problems. 3. Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house.	ought to
should obligation	I should be at work before 9:00.We should return the video before the video rental store closes. "Should" can also express something between recommendation and obligation. "Be supposed to" expresses a similar idea and can easily be used in the past or in negative forms.	NO NEGATIVE FORMS	be supposed to
should expectation	1. Susan should be in New York by now. 2. Susan should have arrived in New York last week. Let's call her and see what she is up to. 3. Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday.	1. Susan shouldn't be in New York yet.2. Susan shouldn't have arrived in New York until yesterday. 3. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week.	ought to, be supposed