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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
[had] better
0 I thought I understood the difference between had better and better in the following context, but it seems like I'm still as lost as before. 02 br
02 br
00 Someone told me you last saw my missing daughter. You [had] better tell me where she is before things get ugly. 02 br
02 br
00 What's the difference between with and without 'had'? 02 br
02 br
00 Thanks! 0-
02 br
00 Someone told me you last saw my missing daughter. You [had] better tell me where she is before things get ugly. 02 br
02 br
00 What's the difference between with and without 'had'? 02 br
02 br
00 Thanks! 0-
Top answer
0 Hi N2G 02 br 00 Only 01 i 00 you 01 b 00 had better 02 b 00 tell me 02 i 00 is correct. 05 0 02 br 00 CB 010id 1
- 0 Hi N2G 02 br 00 Only 01 i 00 you 01 b 00 had better 02 b 00 tell me 02 i 00 is correct.
- 05 0 02 br 00 CB 010id 1
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8 Answers
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0 Hi N2G 02 br
00 Only 01 i 00 you 01 b 00 had better 02 b 00 tell me 02 i 00 is correct. No other difference! 05 0 02 br
00 CB 010id 1
00 Only 01 i 00 you 01 b 00 had better 02 b 00 tell me 02 i 00 is correct. No other difference! 05 0 02 br
00 CB 010id 1
00
0 The only correct reduction is: 02 br
01 i 00 You 01 b 00 'd 02 b 00 better tell me where she is before things get ugly. 02 i 0-
01 i 00 You 01 b 00 'd 02 b 00 better tell me where she is before things get ugly. 02 i 0-
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0 What about this context: 02 br
02 br
00 You['d] better go now. He'll be waiting for you. 02 br
02 br
00 I'd like to know when you use one and not the other. Or do you always use the version with 'had' in formal writing? 0-
02 br
00 You['d] better go now. He'll be waiting for you. 02 br
02 br
00 I'd like to know when you use one and not the other. Or do you always use the version with 'had' in formal writing? 0-
00
0 Use 01 i 00 you had better 02 i 00 in formal writing -- in the rare cases it might occur in formal writing. 02 br
00 Use 01 i 00 you'd better 02 i 00 in ordinary conversation with anybody. 02 br
00 Use 01 i 00 you better 02 i 00 (or 01 i 00 you'd better 02 i 00 ) in very casual conversation with someone you kn
00 Use 01 i 00 you'd better 02 i 00 in ordinary conversation with anybody. 02 br
00 Use 01 i 00 you better 02 i 00 (or 01 i 00 you'd better 02 i 00 ) in very casual conversation with someone you kn
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0 i never really understanding why there's the "HAD" in giving advices, in my head it sounds like something from the PAST (Have->Had) but apparently, it is used in giving advices, which refers more to the future. i guess that's one of those things you say "It's always been like that" , so i just use it and be comfortable with it ...no questions asked. 0-
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1 i 00 You had better 02 i 00 means 01 i 00 you will have to. 02 i 00 I hope this enables you to see the difference between 01 i 00 better 02 i 00 and 01 i 00 had better. 02 i 0-
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0 Hi Yoong Liat, with all due respect, the native speakers don't seem to recognize any difference between them. Or maybe they are not telling me the subtle difference 05 0 00 For the record, my interpretation is the same as yours. 010id 1
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0 Hi New2grammar 02 br
02 br
00 In informal speech, AmE and SME (Singapore/Malaysian English) speakers sometimes say 01 i 00 You better do something 02 i 00 instead of the strictly correct 01 i 00 You had better do something. 02 i 0-
02 br
00 In informal speech, AmE and SME (Singapore/Malaysian English) speakers sometimes say 01 i 00 You better do something 02 i 00 instead of the strictly correct 01 i 00 You had better do something. 02 i 0-
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