Would rather, had better.....

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Joey_five  #147350  Thu, 13 Oct 05 04:12 AM

Hi, I am new here. Hope my question doesn't look too stupid to you all.

I know that "had better" is not a past form. (e.g. You had better think about it) But what if I really want to express this in a past situation. What should I write? And how about "would rather". Thanks.

  
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CalifJim  #147362  Thu, 13 Oct 05 05:28 AM
Welcome to English Forums, Joey_five!

"had better" has no past form.  For this reason you have to use the past of one of its equivalents.

You had better think about it is like You would do better to think about it.
So the past can be expressed as You would have done better to think about it.

You had better think about it is also like It would be better for you to think about it.
So the past can also be expressed as It would have been better for you to think about it.

The same principle applies to "would rather".

I would rather think about it
is like I would prefer to think about it.
So the past can be expressed as I would have preferred to think about it.

CJ
  
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Joey_five  #147407  Thu, 13 Oct 05 08:47 AM
thank you. this helps!!
  
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