Modals · CEFR B1 · Independent

had better — English modal verbs

The sensible thing to do, with a hint that something goes wrong otherwise.

The shape

had better ('d better) + plain verb

Warn somebody without threatening them.

In Hindi

समझदारी की बात — और इशारा कि न किया तो दिक़्क़त होगी।

CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.

The mistake to fix first

The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.

Commonly said	Correct English
I'd better to leave.	I'd better leave. "Had better" never takes "to".

Commonly said

Correct English

I'd better to leave.

I'd better leave.

"Had better" never takes "to".

Easy to confuse with

Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.

should / ought toA2Give advice without sounding like an order

Questions people ask

What is the had better used for?: The sensible thing to do, with a hint that something goes wrong otherwise. In practice: warn somebody without threatening them.
How do you form the had better?: had better ('d better) + plain verb.
What is the most common mistake with the had better?: Saying “I'd better to leave.” instead of “I'd better leave.”. "Had better" never takes "to".

Where had better fits

Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.

had better is a CEFR B1 structure — the independent band — and it belongs to modals. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.

Reading it is not the same as saying it.

CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.

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