This is our last week before the Christmas holiday so this is the perfect time for a Christmas song with a new English pill. Listen carefully to the pieces of advice given to kids in this popular song and guess what the new pill is:
Yes, you're right! Our new English pill is the expression:
had better (not) + base form
of the verb
This is a common expression in
English. It is used to give advice about what someone should or shouldn’t do.
We often use “had better” to give a warning that something bad
will happen if the advice is not followed.
You had better study tonight (or you might fail the test).
He had better go home now (or he will be in trouble!)
You had better not
forget about her birthday! (or
she’ll get cross)
Had is usually replaced by the
contracted form:
I’d better leave now
He’d better study harder next term
In speech, people sometimes shorten it even more and may not pronounce had or 'd at all, as Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé do in their wonderful versions of this Christmas song. But remember, you must not leave out had or its short form 'd when using this expression!!!
Listen to Frank Sinatra... no wonder he was known as "The Voice":
And watch Michael Bublé's Christmas video:
