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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

May want to / may as well / better / had better

Hello, teachers,

Would you be so kind to explain the differences of the following sentences in the view of subtle nuance?

1. You may want to stay here until the rain stops.

2. You may as well stay here until the rain stops.

3. You better stay here until the rain stops.

4. You had better stay here until the rain stops.

Also I would like to know if the two sentences below are compatible.

5. It will be better for you to stay here until the rain stops.

6. You will be better to stay here until the rain stops.

Thank you in advance.

Warmest regards,

blissfarm
  

Top answer

1. You may want to stay here until the rain stops. This can be taken as a gentle suggestion to stay.

— CalifJim

  • 1.
  • You may want to stay here until the rain stops.
  • This can be taken as a gentle suggestion to stay.
  • 2.
  • You may as well stay here until the rain stops.
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10 Answers
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1. You may want to stay here until the rain stops.
This can be taken as a gentle suggestion to stay.
2. You may as well stay here until the rain stops.
This means that there is nothing better to do except to stay.
3. You better stay here until the rain stops.
Thi
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AnonymousAlso I would like to know if the two sentences below are compatible.
5. It will be better for you to stay here until the rain stops.
6. You will be better to stay here until the rain stops.
compatible:
capable of existing together in harmony <compatible theories> <compatible people>

I don't understand wh
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Dear Califjim san,

Thank you very very much for your help.

Now I've become more confident about different kinds of suggestions.

Regarding 3,

You'd better stay

Is the " 'd " "would" ? ....because if it is "had", then it is the same as 4.

I just want to comfirm.

Sorry to trouble you again.

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Dear Califjim san,

Thank you again for your much understanding about my poor English.

I used the word "compatible" as "interchangeable",

but now I understand that "synonymous" is the right word.

Yes, I asked if the two sentences mean the same.

I have understood that 5 sounds slightly firmer than 1

and both 5 & 6 are less natural than 1-4 as En
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AnonymousThank you very very much for your help.
You're welcome!
AnonymousRegarding 3,
You'd better stay
Is the " 'd " "would" ? ....because if it is "had", then it is the same as 4.
'd = had. Yes, it's the same as 4.

CJ
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AnonymousI used the word "compatible" as "interchangeable",
but now I understand that "synonymous" is the right word.
I thought that was probably what you meant!
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Dear Califjim san,

Many thanks to your help and kind replies. Emotion: smile

Warmest regards,

blissfarm
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Hi CJ,
CalifJim2. You may as well stay here until the rain stops.
This means that there is nothing better to do except to stay.
Does the sentence above have the same meaning as the following?
Is there any difference? Please advise.


You might as well stay here until the rain st
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AnonymousDoes the sentence above have the same meaning as the following?
Is there any difference? Please advise.

You might as well stay here until the rain stops.
Same meaning. In American English we tend to choose "might". I think we regard "may" as more formal than "might".

The expression might as well is so common here that w
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I see "might as well" has the same meaning and is common in the U.S., the only difference is that "may" is more formal. Thank you for your helpful input including how it is pronounced in conversations. I now understand.
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