英语中 had better 的用法

had better 用来讨论现在或未来的动作，是说话者认为某人在某个特定的情况下应该做某事，后面接不带 to 的不定式，其中的 had 不是 have 的过去式。在非正式场合中，had better 可以缩写为 'd better，我们可将它归类为“情态动词”。

一、had better 后面接不带 to 不定式，格式是：had better do sth，译为“最好做某事”，它所表达的语气很强。如果我们觉得有人不按要求或建议做会有负面结果，那么就用 had better，例如：

It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.

现在是五点钟。我最好在交通不太拥挤之前走。

You had better listen to what I'm saying before you get yourself into more trouble.

你最好先听听我说的话，免得惹麻烦。

二、had best 有时可以代替 had better，用于非正式的口语中，所表达的语气没那么强或没那么直接，例如：

I'd best get to bed early tonight, since I have to be at the airport at 3:30 AM.

我今晚最好早点睡觉，因为我必须在凌晨3:30到机场。

You had best tell her that you won't be able to come to her party.

你最好告诉她你不能来参加她的聚会。

三、had better 的否定式是：had better not 或 'd better not，译为“最好不要做某事”，例如：

I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone might steal it.

我最好不要把包留在那里。可能有人会偷。

You had better not eat so much at night. 

在晚上你最好不要吃得太多。

四、had better 通常不以普通疑问句的形式出现，但有时用于否定疑问句，作为一种劝告形式，比肯定形式的语气更委婉一点 例如：

1. 在一般疑问句，把 had 提到主语前，译为”…最好…？“，例如：

Had I better speak to Joan first before I send this form off? What do you think?

在我寄出这张表格之前，我最好先和琼谈谈吗？你觉得呢？

Had we better leave a note for the delivery guy to take the parcel next door?

我们最好留张纸条让送货员取隔壁的包裹？

2. 在否定疑问句，把 hadn't 提到主语前面，译为”…是不是最好…？“，例如：

Hadn’t we better ring the school and tell them Liam is sick?

我们是不是最好给学校打个电话告诉他们利亚姆病了？

Hadn’t you better switch your computer off? It might overheat if you leave it on.

你是不是最好把电脑关掉？如果你开着它，它可能会过热。

五、had better 与 be better 或 be best 的区别

had better 用于在特定情况下给出建议，而 be better 或 be best + 不定式来用于一般的建议，例如：

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

安全总比后悔好。

I think it would be best if I talked to her. 

我想让我跟她说的话会比较好。

六、had better 与 would rather 或 would prefer 的区别

在讨论偏爱喜好时不用 had better，而用 would rather 或 would prefer，例如：

would rather:

Kids would rather play than study.

孩子们宁愿玩也不愿学习。

She said she would rather not talk to you right now.

她说她现在不想和你说话。

would prefer:

She answered that she would prefer to walk. 

她回答说她宁愿步行。

I would prefer that you did not mention my name. 

我希望你不要说出我的名字。

试比较：

a. You'd better get a taxi.

b. You'd rather get a taxi.

句 a 建议打的，表明如果不打的，可能会迟到，而句 b 表明偏爱打的，可能不喜欢坐公交车。

六、使用 had better 常犯的错误

1. had better 不用于讨论义务或需求，讨论义务或需求用 have to，have got to 或 must，例如：

正确：In France, you have to drive on the right.

在法国，你必须靠右行驶。

错误：In France, you had better drive on the right.

在法国，你最好靠右行驶。

解析：在法国靠右行驶是属于交通法规定的范围，你必须遵守，而不是最好遵守。

2. had better 不用于讨论偏好，讨论偏好用 would rather 或 would prefer，例如：

They offered her a job in Warsaw, but she said she’d rather work in a smaller city.

他们给她提供了一份在华沙的工作，但她说她宁愿在小城市工作。

3. had better 不用于提一般的建议，例如：

Auckland is a great place to visit. I’d recommend you take a boat trip across the bay and see some of the islands. 

奥克兰是游览的好地方。我建议你乘船穿过海湾，看看一些岛屿。