grammar · neutral

had better + bare infinitive

Band 6-7speakingtask2

Used for strong advice or warning; followed by the plain infinitive (no 'to').

Examples

“You had better apologise before it's too late.”

“We had better leave now if we want to catch the bus.”

“He had better see a doctor about that cough.”

Band 8 sentence

“You had better back up your files regularly; otherwise you risk losing important work.”

Collocations

  • had better + V

Common mistakes

You had better to go now.→You had better go now.

He had better goes soon.→He had better go soon.

Say it for a higher band

5should + V→6ought to + V→7+had better + bare infinitive

Synonyms

should / ought to

Easily confused

should + V

“You should study more for the exam.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

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