Had better

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jack112

#123315 Tue, 02 Aug 05 10:19 AM

What do these ones mean?

1. There'd better not be eels in here. I hate eels. ( Is 'there'd'= 'there had'? If so, why is 'had' past tense?)

2. I'd better get back to work. (Why not use 'I better get back to work.' ?)

Thanks.

jack112

Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004

Regular Member (715)

Mister Micawber

#123341 Tue, 02 Aug 05 11:46 AM

1-- Had better ('d better) is not past tense, Jack-- it is a modal idiom, like would rather.
2-- You will hear people say I better, but it should be transcribed as I'd better.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,710)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Tenses, Modals, Past Tenses, Idioms