HAD BETTER + (NOT) 'BARE (WITHOUT 'to') INFINITIVE.

WOULD RATHER

2nd term grammar sheet for bat 2 at IES SEDAVI

had better/would rather (1)

had better-would rather (2) new-03-04

grammar index             bat2        home

 

HAD BETTER/HAD BETTER NOT

Ex: You'd better stay at home or you'll get wet

You'd better not do it, if you want to keep your job.

This structure is used to express that something is ADVISABLE (=aconsejable) either in a positive or a negative sense and is similar in meaning to 'I think you should'…

1. INTERROGATIVE reads as follows:

Had I better stay or go ?

2 .NEGATIVE

always takes negative NOT and is then followed by bare infinitive

You'd better not heat it much or it will go off ( 'Será mejor que no lo calientes demasiado o se estropeará')

3. CONTRACTIONS:

always ….'D ( I'd….,You'd…., He'd……We'd…..)

 

WOULD('D )RATHER + BARE INFINITIVE +THAN

Ex. I'd rather fish than hunt.

I'd rather not listen to your words

I'd rather you didn't tell me how cold you were when you went skiing.

This structure is used to express preference and takes the auxiliary WOULD and a BARE INFINITIVE (infinitive without 'to')

1. INTERROGATIVE:

What would you rather do, eat here or eat out ?

2. NEGATIVE

I'd rather not say anything else or I will get very angry.

3. INTRODUCING A NEW SUBJECT.

I'd rather you went accompanied than alone.

I'd rather you didn't come home too late.