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Example

Your sickness is getting worse. We had better go to the doctor today.

Note: Had better means that you should do something. If you don't do this thing, there will be a problem or danger in the future.

Positive Structure

Had better + basic verb (walk, see, go etc.)

Example:

We had better leave now, otherwise we will be late.

Negative Structure

Had better + not + basic verb (walk, see, go etc.)

Example:

You had better not be late for work. There is an important meeting today.

Question Structure

Hadn't + l/he/she/etc. + better + basic verb (walk, see, go etc.)

Example:

Hadn’t we better drive? It's quite far to walk.

Things to Note

Had better is usually contracted in spoken English to I’d better, you’d better, she'd better etc.

Things to Note

Had better is similar to should, but not exactly the same. Use had better For saying "this is a good thing to do now" and use should to say "this is a good thing to do in general":

Example:

It's going to rain soon. We had better take an umbrella. (A good thing to do now)

When it rains, you should always take an umbrella. (A good thing to do in general)

Things to Note

Had better is always used to talk about the present or the future:

Example:

Come on, we'd better go now or else we'll be late. (Present)

We haven't seen my parents for months. We'd better visit them tomorrow. (Future)

Things to Note

We often use or, or else, or otherwise to say what will happen if we don't follow the advice:

You had better stop eating junk food every day, or/or else/otherwise you will get fat.

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