Serendipity

Unit 5, Activity 2b

Index Activity 2c

Grammar: Using Modal Verbs to Express Obligation, Permission and Prohibition

HAD BETTER

We use HAD BETTER to give a warning:

You had better not touch my stuff!

Often we use OR ELSE to point out the consequences:

You had better not eat those mushrooms or else you’ll get sick.

In spoken English, we use the contracted form:

You’d better not touch my stuff.

Although it is not technically correct, you will hear people drop the ‘had’ in HAD BETTER:

You better not touch my stuff.