You’d better close the window to keep off the rain.

You shouldn’t drink such cold milk.

You’d better not drink such cold milk.

What do you think we should do?

What had we better do?

Wouldn’t it be a good thing for us to start at once?

Hadn’t we better start at once?

1. You shouldn’t display curiosity about people’s private life.

2. He ought to take the medicine.

3. It would be a good thing if you helped me.

4. Ought we to insist on our point of view?

5. You shouldn’t refuse their invitation.

6. I advise you to take up art.

7. You should accept the apology.

8. Wouldn’t it be a good thing for him to keep on asking questions?

9. You shouldn’t interfere with them.

10. Oughtn’t we wash the car?

11. I advise you to stay at home.

12. Wouldn’t it be advisable to sell the house?

13. I think you should take things easy.

14. What do you think we should do with the boy?

15. Who do you think we should consult?

16. You ought to keep off the grass.

17. You shouldn’t tell lies.

18. I advise you to take the matters in your own hands.

Exercise 174. Respond to the following, giving positive and negative advice. Use had better + infinitive.

Examples: - I hope you’ll drive me to the station. – Sorry, (phone for a taxi)

- Sorry, I’m busy. You’d better phone for a taxi.

- I’m rather feverish today. – Are you? (not/go out)

- Are you? You’d better not go out.

1. I’m so hungry and I have to make some calls. – Oh, (have lunch first).

2. I don’t want to call him tonight. – No, (not/put off this conversation).

3. I’m afraid I won’t manage this work by tomorrow. – Won’t you? (set to work at once, not/waste time).

4. Do you think I can rely on Bill to help me with the exam? - I think so, only (ask Fred).

5. I’m afraid my letter won’t reach her in time. – Won’t it? (send by e-mail)

6. I’d like to take a computer science course. – Would you? (write an application).

7. I’ve lost my purse. – Have you? (look for it at home).

8. Oh, my watch has stopped again! – What a shame! (buy a new one).

9. It’s going to rain. – Is it? (we/go home at once).

10. I don’t think this dress is becoming. –No, it isn’t. (choose something else).

11. It’s so hot and stuffy here. – Yes, it is. (we/go out and have a breath of fresh air).

12. The wind is awfully strong! – It is. I think (not/go out and stay in).

13. It’s much too hot outside. – Yes. (You (put on something very light).

14. I’m afraid my dress is too loose. –Is it? Maybe, you (have it taken in).

Exercise 175. Respond to the following, asking for advice. Use hadn’t… better + infinitive.

Example: - I’m sure your brother can do the work himself. – Can he?

(I/help him)

- Can he? Hadn’t I better help him?

1. I don’t think you should mention it again. – Shouldn’t I? (explain everything again).

2. I’ve had a toothache since morning. – Poor thing! (see your dentist at once).

3. Your daughter is quite all right. – Is she? (keep her in bed another day).

4. I’m afraid Terry doesn’t look well. – Doesn’t he? (see a doctor).

5. Don’t talk about your decision to anybody yet. – Why? (make an announcement today).

6. I can’t cope with this work alone. – Can’t you? (find somebody to help you).

7. I’m constantly thinking about tomorrow’s exam. – Oh, are you? (stop worrying about it).

8. Ask Dick to take you to town. – Oh, (drive the car myself).

9. I feel out of sorts somehow. – Do you? (take the medicine at once).

10. Can you help me get a ticket for this concert? – Maybe, I can, but (ask at the box office).

11. I hear Chris is in hospital. – Really? (visit him).

12. Louise has decided to make the repairs. – But (you – keep her from doing it).

13. Oh, I’m so very tired. – Are you? (go home and have some rest).

14. It’s getting late. – Yes, (call for a taxi).

Exercise 176. Disagree with the suggestion or decline the invitation. State what you prefer doing, using would rather + infinitive.

Example: - Take this blue skirt. It’s good on you. (take the black one)

- No, thanks. I’d rather take the black one.

1. Have a cup of coffee. (have a cup of tea)

2. Would you like to become a doctor? (take up art)

3. Give her a call. (not do it)

4. Let’s have a rest now. (finish my work first)

5. Take an aspirin (not take it)

6. Let’s go to a disco. (stay away tonight)

7. Shall I call your friend? (do it myself)

8. This hat is very becoming. Take it. (buy a cheaper one)

9. Shall we go to Westminster by bus? (go by the Metro. It’s much quicker)

10. Shall I switch on the light? (sit and talk in the twilight)

11. Will you tell me the whole story? (not mention it at all)

12. Are you going to help your friend? (not interfere with her)

13. Shall we discuss your wedding plans? (not dwell on the subject)

14. Will you start this new business with Jim? (keep him from doing it)

15. Are you going with Cecil? (accept your invitation)

16. Are you planning to take up dancing? (take up gymnastics)

17. Why don’t you find a job? (be a housewife)

Exercise 177. Rewrite the second sentence in each conversation, starting with I’d rather we/you/etc.

Example: You’d better phone Fred. – No, you phone him.

I’d rather you phoned him.

1. Let’s talk things over. – No, let’s talk tomorrow.

2. Shall I come at nine? – Ten would be better.

3. I’ll phone Dan. – No, don’t.

4. Can she work with you? – Why doesn’t she work with Maggie?

5. I’ll cook tomorrow. – Tonight would be better.

6. Ask that policeman. – You ask him.

7. Jill wants to go out. – I’d prefer him to stay in.

8. Can they use our sheets? – It would be more convenient if they brought their own.

9. The government wants to cut taxes. – It would be better if they did something about the homeless.

Exercise 178. Complete the sentences using would you rather I…?

1. Are you going to answer the telephone, or…?

2. Are you going to make dinner, or …?

3. Are you going to tell Jessica what happened, or…?

4. Are you going to do the shopping or…?

5. Are you going to drive the car, or…?

6. Are you going to decorate the room for Christmas, or…?

7. Are you going to wash this sweater, or…?

8. Are you going to invite the Johnsons, or…?

Exercise 179. Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1. This is a private letter addressed to me. I’d rather you…

2. Should I tell Pete the news? – No, I’d rather she… know.

3. Do you want me to go now, or would you rather I … here

4. I don’t really like these shoes. I’d rather they… a different colour.

5. Do you mind if I turn on the radio? – I’d rather you … . I’m trying to study.

Exercise 180. Respond to the following statements. Express a suggestion beginning with “Why not + infinitive”.

Example: - What a nice dress!

- Why not buy it?

1. There’s a new film on.

2. I’m tired of waiting. It’s really time to go.

3. The visiting professor is giving a lecture on modern American poetry.

4. There’s a disco tonight.

5. We’re awfully hungry.

6. The music is very beautiful.

7. I’m sick and tired of your talking.

8. I like the way they are dancing.

9. It’s raining. I wouldn’t like to go out.

10. You’ve digressed from the point. (stick to the point)

11. It’s so sunny and the snow is sparkling in the sun.

12. You look so gloomy. (cheer up)

Exercise 181. Respond to the statement given below using had better (‘d better), would rather/sooner (‘d rather/sooner). Add a sentence with “Why not…? + a bare infinitive.

Example: - Andrew is so busy. He is just out of everything.

- He’d better take a day off and go to the country. Why not invite him

to have a swim in the lake?

1. You look pale and you are coughing terribly.

2. I tried to calm her, but she didn’t hear me.

3. James decided to cross his name off the list. He thinks he is not the one to be elected.

4. We are going to the theatre tonight, but they say they may cancel the performance because the leading man is ill.

5. Susan is so fat because she has a sweet tooth. She eats too much candy and there’s always a bowl of candies on her table.

6. Ann always takes her anger out on her husband.

7. There’s a lot of talk about his divorce.

8. I never talk politics in the pub.

9. My son has just had a terrible picture tattooed on his arm.

10. Nick tore her letter into small pieces.

11. Dad is always teasing him about his girl friends.

12. All these late nights are beginning to tell on his health.

13. Jack failed to repay most of his debt.

Exercise 182. Translate into English.

1. Я бы лучше здесь подождала, если вы не возражаете. 2. Я так устал вчера, я предпочел бы никуда не ходить. 3. Мне не хочется есть. Я предпочла бы обедать попозже. 4. Лучше поезжайте автобусом. 5. Он очень волнуется. Он предпочел бы отвечать первым. 6. Лучше не говорите ей об этом. 7. Они устали после контрольной работы и предпочли бы сегодня не оставаться на консультацию. 8. По-моему, им лучше пообедать в институте. 9. Может быть, вы предпочитаете сделать это сами? 10. Ты бы лучше не пил кофе так поздно вечером. 11. Погода была плохая, и мы охотней пошли бы в кино. 12. Ты бы лучше пошел и позвонил им. 13. Я сейчас свободен и охотно сделал бы перевод сразу. 14. Лучше возьми с собой несколько бутербродов. 15. Я бы предпочел присоединиться к вам и поехать за город, чем сидеть в городе в такую погоду. 16. Ты бы лучше готовился к зачету по английскому, а не смотрел телевизор с утра до вечера. 17. Он скорее расстанется с ней, чем позволит ей так обращаться с собой. 18. Почему бы не съездить в Париж на выставку? 19. Он скорее умрет, чем откажется от своих принципов. 20. Ему лучше посоветоваться с врачом перед тем, как ехать. 21. Вам лучше не есть этой рыбы. 22. Лучше говорите правду. 23. Я бы предпочел, чтобы вы не разговаривали так громко. 24. Мама не хотела бы, чтобы ты лежал одетым на постели. 25. Жители города предпочли бы, чтобы эта улица была закрыта для автомобилей. 26. Я бы хотел, чтобы моя жена не была так невозможно красива. 27. Отец предпочел бы, чтобы ты управлял делами, когда его не будет. 28. Я бы хотела, чтобы вы закончили отделку квартиры до праздника. 29. Хоть бы это лекарство не было таким горьким! 30. Вы что, имеете в виду, что предпочли бы, чтобы меня здесь не было?