Had better: 形式和含义

我们用had better来指代现在或将来，来谈论我们认为人们应该做的或在特定情况下可取的行为。动词形式总是had，而不是have。在非正式场合，我们通常把它缩短为' d better。它后面跟着不带to的不定式:

It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.

Not:

I’d better to go now.

The democratic movement had better concentrate on the immediate issues of the economy and security. (more formal)

Had better是一个强烈的表达。如果我们认为如果某人不按照期望或建议去做，就会产生负面结果，我们就会使用这个短语:

She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.

Spoken English:

有时人们会说had best而不是had better，尤其是在非正式谈话中。这听起来没有那么强烈和直接:

You’d best leave it till Monday. There’s no one in the office today.

Had better: 否定和疑问形式

had better的否定形式是had better not(或' d better not):

I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone might steal it.

You’d better not tell Elizabeth about the broken glass – she’ll go crazy!

had better的疑问句形式由主语和had颠倒而成。这和should的意思一样，但是更正式:

Had I better speak to Joan first before I send this form off? What do you think?

Had we better leave a note for the delivery guy to take the parcel next door?

带有had better的否定疑问句比带有肯定疑问句更常见:

Hadn’t we better ring the school and tell them Liam is sick?

Hadn’t you better switch your computer off? It might overheat if you leave it on.

Had better 或

be better, 还是

be best?

We use

had better to give advice in a specific situation. We use the phrase

be better or

be best + to-infinitive for more general suggestions:

我们用had better在特定情况下给出建议。我们用be better或be best +不定式表达更一般的建议:

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. (‘It’s better to be safe than sorry’是一个谚语，意思是你在采取任何行动之前都要小心。)

I think it would be best to speak to the people in the video shop to see what they recommend.

Had better 还是

would rather,

would prefer?

当我们谈论偏好时，我们不用had better。我们用would rather或would prefer。

比较

I’d better get a taxi. The buses are so slow.

It is a good idea, better, or advisable to get a taxi.

I’d rather get a taxi. I don’t like buses.

I prefer to get a taxi.