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Had Better Explanation

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Had Better Explanation

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Had better: form and meaning

We use had better to refer to the present or the future, to talk about actions we think people should
do or which are desirable in a specific situation. The verb form is always had, not have. We
normally shorten it to ’d better in informal situations. It is followed by the infinitive without to:
It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.
Not: I’d better to go now.
The democratic movement had better concentrate on the immediate issues of the economy and
security. (more formal)

Had better is a strong expression. We use it if we think there will be negative results if someone
does not do what is desired or suggested:
She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.

Spoken English:
Sometimes people say had best instead of had better, especially in informal speaking. This sounds
slightly less strong and less direct:
You’d best leave it till Monday. There’s no one in the office today.

Had better: negative and question forms


The negative of had better is had better not (or ’d better not):
I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone might steal it.
You’d better not tell Elizabeth about the broken glass – she’ll go crazy!

The question form of had better is made by inverting the subject and had. This means the same
as should, but is more formal:
Had I better speak to Joan first before I send this form off? What do you think?
Had we better leave a note for the delivery guy to take the parcel next door?

Negative questions with had better are more common than affirmative ones:
Hadn’t we better ring the school and tell them Liam is sick?
Hadn’t you better switch your computer off? It might overheat if you leave it on

Read the situations and write sentences with had better or had better not. Use the
words in brackets.

1 You’re going out for a walk with Tom. It looks as if it might rain. You say to Tom:
(an umbrella) We …………………….
2 Oliver has just cut himself. It’s a bad cut. You say to him:
(a plaster) …………………….
3 You and Kate plan to go to a restaurant this evening. It’s a popular restaurant. You say to Kate:
(reserve) We …………………….
4 Rebecca doesn’t look very well this morning- not well enough to go to work. You say to her:
(work) …………………….
5 You received your phone bill four weeks ago, but you haven’t paid it yet. If you don’t pay soon,
you could be in trouble. You say to yourself:
(pay) …………………….
6 You want to ask your boss something, but he’s very busy and you know he doesn’t like to be
disturbed. You say to a colleague:
(disturb) I …………………….

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