3) Had better-phrase

Had better is also used in unreal past, where had is the Present Subjunctive II form of have. We use this phrase to give strong advice or warning to people (including ourselves) when we believe that something bad will happen if the person doesn’t follow it, e.g.: You had better ring him at once. (advice)

You had better stop eating so many sweets before you get a toothache. (warning)

Had better refers to present or immediate future. It is more urgent than should or ought to, e.g.: - “ I ought to go and see Fred one of those days”.

- “Well, you’d better do it soon. He’s leaving for South

Africa next month”.

Had better is very direct; we don’t use it in polite request:

Could you help me if you’ve got time?

You’d better help me or there’ll be trouble.

Had better takes an Indefinite Infinitive without the particle to, e.g.:

You had better not miss the last bus.

We comment on such sentences in the following way:

You had better ask him first. «Тебе бы лучше его спросить сначала». It’s a simple sentence with the modal expression had better used to denote advice. The indefinite Infinitive is used to refer the action to the future.

4) As if/as though in subordinate clauses

The conjunctions as if, as though introduce subordinate clauses of comparison.

To express a comparison which we consider possible or likely we use the Indicative Mood form of the verbs in the main and subordinate clause, e.g.:

She looks as if she knows what’s going to happen. (May be she does.)

The Present Subjunctive II can be used after as if/as though to indicate unreality or improbability or doubt in the present, e.g.: She looks as if she knew what’s going to happen. (She doesn’t know, in fact)

Actions expressed by Subjunctive II forms correlate with actions in the main clause and should be called prior, simultaneous or posterior. Simultaneous actions are expressed by a Present Subjunctive II form of the verb in the subordinate clause, e.g.: He behaved as if he owned the place.

We comment on such sentences in the following way:

He behaved as if he owned the place. «Он вёл себя так, как будто был хозяином здесь». It’s a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of unreal comparison. Owned is the Present Subjunctive II form of the verb to own used to denote an unreal comparison which is simultaneous to the action in the main clause.

Posterior actions are expressed by the Present Subjunctive II form of the verb will (=would) followed by an Indefinite Infinitive, e.g.:

He sounded as if he would never agree to let me go.

We comment on such sentences in the following way:

You seem as if you would never come here again. «Ты ведёшь себя так, как будто не собираешься сюда больше приехать». It’s a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of unreal comparison. Would come is the Present subjunctive II form of the verb will followed by the Indefinite Infinitive to come and used to denote an unreal comparison which is posterior to the action in the main clause.

Prior actions are expressed by the Past Subjunctive II form of the verb in the subordinate clause, e.g.:

He talks about Rome as if he had been there himself.

We comment on such sentences in the following way:

He looked as though he hadn’t had a decent meal for a month. «Он выглядел, как будто не имел нормальной пищи в течение месяца». It’s a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of unreal comparison. Hadn’t had is the Past Subjunctive II form of the verb have used to denote an unreal comparison which is prior to the action in the main clause.