Advice: should, ought to, had better

Rules

• Rule 1: ought to = should

  ought to means the same as should, but it's a little more formal. to is always there, and it never takes -s. The negative is ought not to (not goes between ought and to).

  Pattern: subject + ought to / ought not to + base verb

  Example: You ought to say thank you.

  Example: She ought to rest a little.

• Rule 2: had better = advice with a warning

  had better (short: 'd better) is strong advice for a specific situation. It carries a warning: if you don't do it, something bad will happen. We often give the bad result with or.

  Pattern: subject + had better / 'd better + base verb (… or …)

  Example: It's late. We'd better go home.

  Example: You'd better study, or you'll fail the quiz.

• Rule 3: had better not

  In the negative, not comes after better: had better not + base verb. No “don't”, no to.

  Pattern: subject + had better not + base verb

  Example: You'd better not climb that wall.

  Example: We had better not forget the tickets.

• Rule 4: had is not past!

  The had in had better is not past tense: the advice is always about now or the future. It stays had with every subject — never “has better”. The short form 'd means had, not would.

  Pattern: I / you / he / she / we / they + had better

  Example: He'd better call his dad now.

  Example: The test is tomorrow. She had better start today.

Common mistakes

• You had better to hurry. → You had better hurry.

  No to after had better.

• She has better go now. → She had better go now.

  It's always had; there is no “has better”.

• You don't ought to shout. → You ought not to shout.

  ought is not made negative with do/does.