核心问题
请解释'd better的意义和用法。
词典解答
'd better 是 had better 的缩写形式,意思是“最好”“最好还是”。有时也使用 would better,但它没有前者用得普遍,比较少见。
-
I think you had better pay him a visit tomorrow. 我想你明天最好还是去看看他。
-
You'd better take off the Invisibility Cloak, Harry. (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) 你最好脱掉隐形外衣, 哈利。(《哈利·波特与死亡圣徒》)
由于汉语的“你最好……”表达的是一种很有礼貌的建议，所以中国人便把 you had bet-ter 看作是一种很有礼貌的表达方式。其实,正像语言学家们所指出的那样,had better,如同 should, ought to 一样,表示“有义务做某事”(“have a duty to”或“have an obligation”)。有时还用于下达命令或进行威胁:
- You had better go out, or I will throw you out of the window.
你最好出去,不然的话,我就把你从窗户扔出去。
- You had better go to the hospital at once if you want to see him before he dies. 如果你想在他死之前见到他的话，你最好马上去医院。
如果你想在他死之前见到他的话，你最好马上去医院。
- You had better pay me now. Otherwise, I'll tell your mother. 识相点, 现在就把钱付给我。不然的话, 我就去告诉你妈妈。
因此,对于长辈和需要表示尊敬的人,不应当说 you had better,而应采用其他比较有礼貌的说法:you might, it might be better to, I suggest 等等。(参见 had better)
know better 见 know
the better/the best 见 the larger/the largest