Lesson
Had better ( I'd better / you had better )
I'd better do something = it is advisable to do it . If I don’t , there will be a problem .
I Have to meet Ann in ten minutes . I'd better go now or I will be late.
Shall I take an umbrella ? Yes, you had better. It might rain.
We had better stop for petrol soon . The tank is almost empty .
The negative is I'd better not = I had better not
Are you going out tonight?
I'd better not. I have got a lot of work to do.
You don’t look very well . you had better not go to work today.
You can use had better when you warn somebody that they must do something :
You had better be on time.
You had better not be late .
Note that;
The form is had better( usually I'd better/you had better etc. in spoken English ;
I'd phone carol, hadn’t I ?
Had is a past form, but in this expression the meaning is a present or future ,not past;-
I'd better go to the bank now /tomorrow.
We say I'd better do …………’ (not ’to do )
It might rain. We had better take an umbrella .( not we had better to take)
Had better and should ::
Had better is similar to should but not exactly the same.
We use had better only for a particular situation.(not for thing in general)
It’s cold today. You had better wear a coat when you go out.( particular situation)
All drivers should wear seat belts.(in general _ not had better wear )
You can use should in all types of situation to give an opinion or give advice.
Also , with had better there is always a danger or a problem if don’t fallow advice.
Should only means It’s a good thing to do. Compare:
It’s a great film. You should go and see it .(But no danger no problem if u don’t)
the film start at 8.30 .you had better go now or you will be late .