25/2/2016
ENGLISH PAGE Had Better
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Had Better
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"Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It can also be used to
express desperate hope as well as warn people.
Examples:
You had better take your umbrella with you today. recommendation
That bus had better get here soon! desperate hope
You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! warning
Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below
to learn how "had better" behaves in different contexts.
Use
had better
Positive Forms
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. =
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = use:
Future
Future
1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR
1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR
should,
"OUGHT TO"
"OUGHT TO"
ought
People should unplug
People shouldn't clean
to
toasters before they clean
toasters without unplugging
them.
them first.
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD
HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO
HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO
HAVE"
HAVE"
recommendation You should have unplugged
You shouldn't have cleaned
the toaster before you tried
the toaster without
to clean it.
unplugging it first.
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Also
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25/2/2016
ENGLISH PAGE Had Better
3. You had better unplug the
3. You had better not clean
toaster before you try to
the toaster until you unplug
clean it.
it.
The movie had better end
They had better not be late.
soon.
had better
They had better not forget
They had better be here
desperate hope, before we start dinner.
warning
Tom's birthday gift.
Desperate hopes and
Desperate hopes and
warnings usually refer to the
warnings usually refer to the
near future.
near future.
"Had better" is often simply pronounced as "better" in spoken English.
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS
Modal Exercise 5 have got to, had better, may and shall
Modal Exercise 7 modal verb forms
Modal Verb Final Test complete review
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