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Specter Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

had better

Hi,

I just wanted to know the pattern of this: You had better call me.

You - subject

had - verb

better - adverb

call me - bare infinitive

Is it S+V+O?

thanks,

Specter Emotion: big smile
  

Top answer

Palmer ( The English Verb ) treats had better and would rather as idiomatic "marginal verbs" acting as modals. Note that they are not real verbs but more like modal verbs because they cannot occur in various tenses. Compare: I | must | go.

— CalifJim

  • Palmer ( The English Verb ) treats had better and would rather as idiomatic "marginal verbs" acting as modals.
  • Note that they are not real verbs but more like modal verbs because they cannot occur in various tenses.
  • Compare: I | must | go.
  • I | had better | go.
  • I | can | go.
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2 Answers
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Palmer (The English Verb) treats had better and would rather as idiomatic "marginal verbs" acting as modals. Note that they are not real verbs but more like modal verbs because they cannot occur in various tenses. Compare:

I | must | go.
I | had better | go.
I | can | go.
I | would rather | go.
I | should | go.

CJ
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