by R. S. Karunaratne

The correct use of 'had better'

We use 'had better' to talk about the present, not the past. It means "This is a good thing to do now." Some people say, "you better" which is incorrect.

I had better attend the interview.
I had better not attend his birthday party.
You had better go home now.
He had better apply for the post of translator.
She had better go abroad for higher education.
You had better not accept his offer of employment.
'Had better" can be contracted.
I'd better leave now.
You'd better sign the contract.
She'd better sit the examination.
He'd better join the army.
We'd better take him to hospital.
You'd better stop laughing at other people.

We use 'had better' and 'should' to say "This is a good thing to do now."

You should pay the house rent today.
We had better attend school today.
I had better wear a tie for the interview.
You should dress well for the party.
She had better practise her violin lessons.
She should speak the truth now.

We use 'should', but not 'had better' to say "This is a good thing to do in general."

If you miss the bus, you should ring me.
You should always listen to the teacher.
(NOT: You had better listen to the teacher.)
You should use the pedestrian crossing.
(NOT: You had better use the pedestrian crossing.)

We do not use "You had better' as a polite way to ask people to do certain things for us.
Could you hold this umbrella for me?
(NOT: You had better hold this umbrella for me.)

We do not use "You had better" when we address customers, teachers or superiors.

Would you explain that point, please?
(NOT: You'd better explain that point.)
You might try this T-shirt.
(NOT: You'd better try this T-shirt.)

Match words and meanings

Here's a novel method to enrich your vocabulary. Match the words in Column 'A' with the meanings in Column 'B' and check your answers with the key. The first one has been done for you.

[Column A]

Y 1. blur

... 2. blurb
... 3. blurt
... 4. blush
... 5. bluster
... 6. boar
... 7. boast
... 8. boathouse
... 9. boatswain
... 10. boatyard
... 11. bode
... 12. bodice
... 13. bogus
... 14. boisterous
... 15. Bollywood
... 16. bolster
... 17. bombard
... 18. bombast
... 19. bonfire
... 20. bonhomie
... 21. bonk
... 22. bonkers
... 23. boo
... 24. bookworm
... 25.boom

[Column B]

A. a deep and loud hollow sound
B. a person who reads a lot
C. to make an expression of strong disapproval
D. silly
E. to hit somebody or something, not very hard
F. friendliness and happiness
G. a large fire made outside to burn unwanted things
H. language that is intentionally difficult
I. to attack a place with continuous shooting or bombs
J. to improve something
K. the centre of the Hindi film industry
L. noisy
M. false
N. the upper part of a woman's dress
O. to be a sign of something that will happen
P. a place where boats are made, kept or repaired
Q. an officer on a ship who looks after the equipment
R. a small building in which boats are kept
S. to speak too proudly about what you have done
T. a type of wild pig
U. to speak in a loud and angry way
V. to become pink in the face
W. to say something suddenly and without thinking
X. a short description of a book or film
Y. to make something difficult to see clearly

Key:

2.X 3. W 4. V 5. U 6. T 7. S 8. R 9. Q 10. P 11. O 12. N 13. M 14. L 15. K 16. J 17. I 18. H 19. G 20. F 21. E 22. D 23. C 24. B 25. A

Starters:

The use of 'Wh-questions'

'Wh-questions' begin with question words such as 'who, what, which, whose, where, when, why' and 'how.' We use them to ask for information.

Who are you?
What is in this box?
Which one do you want?
Whose is this camera?
Where are they going?
When are you coming home?
Why is she crying?
How are you?

Most 'wh- questions' begin with a question word + an auxiliary or helping verb + the subject.

What is Roy doing?
Where have you parked your car?
When can we meet again?
Who is he?
Which train is going to Kandy?
Whose is this baby?
When are we meeting again?
Why are they silent?
How is your brother?
We use a form of 'do' in the simple present and simple past tenses when we use 'wh- questions.'

Who do you want to meet?
What do they want?
Which do you prefer?
Where do they come from?
When do you relax?
When did you go to England?
Why do you cry?
How do you do it?

Question phrases

We make question phrases with 'what and 'how.'

What time is your train?
What type of school is this?
How often do you go to the library?
How long will you take to type these letters?
How much money do you earn a month?
What colour is your shirt?
How old is your grandfather?
How far is the railway station?
How many mobile phones have you got?

Activity

Use the following question words and question phrases in the blanks and check your answers with the key.

How far, how long, how often, how many, what colour, what kind, when, where, who

1. ............. is this wall?
2. .............. is Carol?
3. ............... inches are there in a foot?
4. ............... did the First World War end?
5. ............... did you meet at the party?
6. ............... is a UFO?
7. ............... is it from Colombo to Kandy?
8. ............... did the Commonwealth Heads of States meet?
9. ............... of food is Cheddar?
10. ............. have you been waiting?

Form adverbs from nouns

Words come in families. You can expand your vocabulary by becoming familiar with these word families and this can also enable you to become a more fluent speaker and writer of English. Write the relevant adverbs in Column 'B' for the nouns in Column 'A.' Check your answers with the key.

Column A Column B

1. sense ..............
2. separation ..............
3. seriousness ..............
4. shakiness ..............
5. shape ..............
6. shock ..............
7. shortage ..............
8. shyness ..............
9. sickness ..............
10. significance ..............
11. silence ..............
12. similarity ..............
13. simplification .............
14. single ..............
15. sleep ..............
16. slight ...............
17. smoothness ...............
18. society ..............
19. softness ..............
20. solidity ..............
21. speech ..............
22. special ..............
23. speed ...............
24. sport ..............
25.spot ...............

Key:

1. sensibly 2. separately 3. seriously 4. shakily 5. shapelessly 6. shockingly 7. short 8. shyly 9. sickeningly 10. significantly 11. silently 12. similarly 13. simply 14. singly 15. sleepily 16. slightly 17. smoothly 18. socially 19. softly 20. solidly 21. unspeakably 22. specially 23. speedily 24. sportingly 25. spotlessly