Page 115 - Basic English Usage

115 147 — 149

147 go ... -ing

We often use the structure go ... -ing, especially to talk about sports
and free-time activities.
Let's go climbing next weekend.
Did you go dancing last Saturday?
Common expressions:
go climbing go dancing go fishing
go hunting go riding go sailing
go shooting go shopping go skiing
go swimming go waiking

148 had better

We use had better to give advice, or to tell people what to do. The
meaning is present or future, not past, but we always use had, not have.
After had better, we use the infinitive without to.
It's late — you’d better hurry up.
(NOT ... yetthave-pbetter
...)
(NOT... f -)
We make the negative with better not + infinitive.
You'd better not wake me up when you come in.
(NOT Yetrhadt better-wakeme ...)
We can ‘tell ourselves what to do’ by using /'d better.
It's seven o'clock. I'd better put the meat in the oven.

We do not use had better in polite requests.
Could you help me, if you've got time?
(NOT You'd-better-heip-me- This would sound like an order.)

149 half (of)

We can use haifor half of before a noun.
Half (of) my friends live abroad.
She spends half (of) her time travelling.
Ofis not used in expressions of measurement and quantity.
| live half a mile from here. (NOT ... hattofe-mife...)
How much is half a bottle of whisky?
(NOT ... haltefebettie ...)
We use half of before pronouns.
‘Did you like the books?’ ‘ve only read half of them.’
Half of us are free on Tuesdays, and the other half on Thursdays.