HAD BETTER/HAD BETTER NOT Ex: You'd better stay at home or you'll get wet You'd better not do it, if you want to keep your job. This structure is used to express that something is ADVISABLE (=aconsejable) either in a positive or a negative sense and is similar in meaning to 'I think you should'… 1. INTERROGATIVE reads as follows: Had I better stay or go ? 2 .NEGATIVE always takes negative NOT and is then followed by bare infinitive You'd better not heat it much or it will go off ( 'Será mejor que no lo calientes demasiado o se estropeará') 3. CONTRACTIONS: always ….'D ( I'd….,You'd…., He'd……We'd…..)
WOULD('D )RATHER + BARE INFINITIVE +THAN Ex. I'd rather fish than hunt. I'd rather not listen to your words I'd rather you didn't tell me how cold you were when you went skiing. This structure is used to express preference and takes the auxiliary WOULD and a BARE INFINITIVE (infinitive without 'to') 1. INTERROGATIVE: What would you rather do, eat here or eat out ? 2. NEGATIVE I'd rather not say anything else or I will get very angry. 3. INTRODUCING A NEW SUBJECT. I'd rather you went accompanied than alone. I'd rather you didn't come home too late.
Practice Fill the gaps with had/'d better or would/'d rather. 1
It's getting dark. We_______________ go back now.
2
A: Can I borrow your car? B: You_______________ not!
3
A: Can I borrow your camera? B: I_______________ you didn't.
4
You know, I_______________ you didn't smoke in front of the kids.
5
You_______________ take insect repellant if you're camping near a lake.
6
I_______________ go to Altea than bloody Benidorm any day.
7
We_______________ you didn't hang out with Craig. He's bad news.
8
They_______________ have everything ready for when our clients arrive or I'll
skin them alive. 9
I_______________ not drink on Friday or I won't be in a fit state for the
journey. 10
You_______________ take a bit of time to think this one over carefully.
11
You_______________ not breathe a word about this to David.
12
A: Mike, I_______________ you didn't wear jeans in the office. B: Craig, I'd rather you weren't my boss!
"Had Better and Would Rather" Exercise – answers 'd = would
1
It's getting dark. We'd better go back now.
2
A: Can I borrow your car? B: You'd better not!
3
A: Can I borrow your camera? B: I'd rather you didn't.
4
You know, I'd rather you didn't smoke in front of the kids.
5
You'd better take insect repellant if you're camping near a lake.
6
I'd rather go to Altea than bloody Benidorm any day.
7
We'd rather you didn't hang out with Craig. He's bad news.
8
They'd better have everything ready for when our clients arrive or I'll skin them
alive. 9
I'd better not drink on Friday or I won't be in a fit state for the journey.
10
You'd better take a bit of time to think this one over carefully.
11
You'd better not breathe a word about this to David.
12
A: Mike, I'd rather you didn't wear jeans in the office. B: Craig, I'd rather you weren't my boss!