had better

An English teacher explains how to use "had better." This is an idiomatic modal which closely resembles "should," but it's a little stronger than "should."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ESL

[Jetfly444]

and which tense is that?

I had better go

[learnamericanenglish]

@Jetfly444 -- Good question. It's used to describe present and future situations.

[drbandar]

when can I use had better

"in the past"

or like I have to

Thanks

[learnamericanenglish]

@drbandar -- You can use it to describe the present or the future. It's harder to use in the past. Look at the examples:

He'd better be on time today. (future)

You'd better have your assignment. (present)

But if you use it for a past situation, it's kind of awkward:

He had better not have done that. (This sounds really strange, but I hear it used--usually with the negative)

It's better to use "should" in place of "had better" for the past.

Hope that helps.

[revengadown]

nice tshirt hehehe

[meghasweety003]

thanks......



[abhijithero]

We students here better learn English

[charme12]

Vous avez sauvez ma course anglais, apres si longuetemps, ENFIN je suis

sauvez par Vous,- mille merci

[7Pausini]

Oooh ! Man you are a good teacher you explain your classes very clear, I'm learning English as my second language and I leaned a lot with you. Thank you so much!!!!!

[Fugabt]

Dear teacher, you explain grammar comprehensibly, compactly in a distinct way. Thanks a lot!