better – WordReference.com English Usage

better

used as a comparative

Better is the comparative form of both good and well. Don’t say that something is ‘

more good

’ or is done ‘

more well

’. You say that it is better or is done better.

The results were better than expected.

Some people could ski better than others.

You can use words such as even, far, a lot, and much in front of better.

Bernard knew him even better than Annette did.

I decided that it would be far better just to wait.

I always feel much better after a bath.

another meaning of ‘better’

You can also say that someone is better, or is feeling better. This means that they are recovering, or that they have recovered, from an illness or injury.

Her cold was better.

The doctor thinks I’ll be better by the weekend.

‘had better’

If you say that someone had better do something, you mean that they ought to do it. Had better is always followed by an infinitive without to. People usually shorten had to ‘d. They say ‘I’d better‘, ‘We’d better‘, and ‘You’d better‘.

I ‘d better introduce myself.

We’d better go.

Be careful

You must use had or ‘d in sentences like these. Don’t say ‘

I better introduce myself

’ or ‘

I better go

’.

In negative sentences, not goes after had better.

We’d better not tell him what happened.

Be careful

Don’t say that someone ‘

hadn’t better

‘ do something.