Had Better

"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 Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. =
Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. =
Future
You can
also use:
had better
RECOMMENDATION
1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR
"OUGHT TO"
People should unplug toasters
before they clean them.
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD
HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO
HAVE"
You should have unplugged
the toaster before you tried to
clean it.
3. You had better unplug the
toaster before you try to clean
it.
1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR
"OUGHT TO"
People shouldn't clean
toasters without unplugging
them first.
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD
HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO
HAVE"
You shouldn't have cleaned
the toaster without unplugging
it first.
3. You had better not clean
the toaster until you unplug it.
should,
ought to
had better
DESPERATE HOPE,
WARNING
The movie had better end
soon.
They had better be here
before we start dinner.
DESPERATE HOPES AND
WARNINGS USUALLY REFER TO
THE NEAR FUTURE.
They had better not be late.
They had better not forget
Tom's birthday gift.
DESPERATE HOPES AND
WARNINGS USUALLY REFER TO
THE NEAR FUTURE.

"Had better" is often simply pronounced as "better" in spoken English.


In present you can use should, when you use had better is because the consequence is worse than when you
use should if you don't follow the advice.
should, ought to
You should (or ought to) call your friend to thank her.
You shouldn't (or oughtn't to) tell lies.
had better
It's raining, you'd better take your umbrella.
I have a very important meeting at 8, I had better not be late!
Ought to when is a general idea that isnt recommended.
You ought not to smoke
We use had better to give advice about specific situations, not general ones. If you want to talk
about general situations, you must use should.
The had better is more to talk about specific situation
(+)
You'd better tell her everything.
I'd better get back to work.
We'd better meet early.
(-)
You'd better not say anything.
I'd better not come.
We'd better not miss the start of his presentation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

You shouldn't say anything.
I should get back to work.
We should meet early.