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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Hadn't you better not do?

"Hadn't you better do" means "you should do", is that right? For example "hadn't you better wear your coat as it is getting cold" means "you should wear your coat as it is getting cold", is that right?

is "Hadn't you better not do" a right pattern, meanng "you shouldn't do"? For example, can I say "hadn't you better not go there as it may be dangerous", meaning "you shouldn't go there as it may be dangerous"?
  

Top answer

We may say "you had better leave now / you'd better leave now", which means "it will be better if you leave now", which also means "you should leave now". Here you're making a statement. I wouldn't say "hadn't you better leave now" - that doesn't sound right to me.

— Xerxes

  • We may say "you had better leave now / you'd better leave now", which means "it will be better if you leave now", which also means "you should leave now".
  • Here you're making a statement.
  • I wouldn't say "hadn't you better leave now" - that doesn't sound right to me.
  • If I say "shouldn't you leave now", I am actually asking a question and leaving it up to the person to decide or tell you whether he (or she) wants to leave.
  • Anonymous is "Hadn't you better not do" a right pattern, meanng "you shouldn't do"?
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2 Answers
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We may say "you had better leave now / you'd better leave now", which means "it will be better if you leave now", which also means "you should leave now". Here you're making a statement. I wouldn't say "hadn't you better leave now" - that doesn't sound right to me.

If I say "shouldn't you leave now", I am actually asking a question and leaving it up to the person to decide or tell you wh
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