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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: I'd better do |
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| Quote: |
A:Have you finished packing for your trip, Ken?
B:I think so. I followed a check list from the tour company.
A:Don't forget to have your name and address inside the suitcase in case the tag outside is lost.
B:I hadn't thought of that. But I'd better do so. |
In the quote, I have two questions.
First, I can't understand why 'I hadn't thought of that.' is used instead of 'I haven't thought of that.' I think 'I haven't thought of that.' is proper rather than 'I hadn't thought of that.' Can you teach me?
Second, I think 'I'd better do.' is fine, too. But the author who wrote the above grammar book insists that 'I'd better do' is wrong but 'I'd better.' or 'I'd better do so.' or 'I'd better do it.' is correct. Please let me know the truth.
Thanks. |
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Jintii
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 111
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: I'd better do |
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| Chan-Seung Lee wrote: |
First, I can't understand why 'I hadn't thought of that.' is used instead of 'I haven't thought of that.' I think 'I haven't thought of that.' is proper rather than 'I hadn't thought of that.' Can you teach me?
The present perfect (haven't thought) is for actions that started in the past but are still continuing in the present. But in your dialog, A suggested the idea, and B listened, so the idea has now occurred to B, too. That's why I haven't thought of that can't work here. (You can often test sentences to see if they make sense in the present perfect by adding yet: I haven't thought of that yet doesn't make sense, since A just said it.)
The past perfect (hadn't thought) is for actions in the past that happened before other actions in the past. I hadn't thought of that works here because there is an unspoken second half of the sentence, which is also in the past: I hadn't thought of that (until you said it). Many people would also use the simple past: I didn't think of that.
Second, I think 'I'd better do.' is fine, too. But the author who wrote the above grammar book insists that 'I'd better do' is wrong but 'I'd better.' or 'I'd better do so.' or 'I'd better do it.' is correct. Please let me know the truth.
I agree with your book. I'd better do is incomplete -- you'd better do what? I'd better do what you said, I'd better do that/it, I'd better do so....
I'd better is also fine. It's common in English to answer questions by repeating only the auxiliary verb, and omitting the main verb. Here, had better is a verbal auxiliary.
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I hope that helps.  |
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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:54 am Post subject: one more question |
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| Quote: |
ex1)I speak French as well as she does.
ex2)I want to enjoy reading as I used to do.
ex3)She doesn't have a car, but her husband does. |
The above quote was found in my English dictionary.
I think 'ex1)' should be changed to 'I speak French as well as she does it.' according to your earlier explanation. And also I think 'ex2)' should be changed to 'I want to enjoy reading as I used to do it.' and 'ex3)' should be changed to 'She doesn't have a car, but her husband does it.
However, I am not sure that I'm right. Please let me know the truth.
Thanks. |
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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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| Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:03 pm Post subject: help me please. |
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| the above problem I want to solve. Help me. |
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