But now you’d better go to see a doctor.

[touchstone]

(a junior middle school boy talks to an old lady)
Boy: Good morning, Mrs Black. What’s wrong with you?
Lady: I’ve got a pain in my throat. The factory produces terrible gas.
Boy: I think I should write to the newspaper about it. But now you’d better go to see a doctor.
(from an English textbook for junior middle school students in China)

I don’t think it’s OK for a little boy to use ‘had better’ to give advice to an old lady. Maybe the boy can say ‘It’s good for you see a doctor now’. What do you say?
Thanks.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I see no reason why a young person should not say 'had better' to an old person.

 

[GoesStation]

You had better is a synonym for "you should". It's neither peremptory nor rude.

 

[Matthew Wai]

If I recall correctly, a teacher here told me that 'had better' is stronger than 'should', or words to that effect.

 

[touchstone]

Thanks, guys. I read the following in a Longman grammar book.

In meaning, ‘had better’ is close to ‘should’ and ‘ought to’, but ‘had better’ is usually stronger. Often ‘had better’ implies a warning or a threat of possible bad consequences.
(Understanding and Using English Grammar, Longman)

After reading your posts, I’m a little confused. Can you show me where I misunderstood the explanation above in the Longman book?
Thanks again.

 

[touchstone]

[FONT=&#23435] I also read similar explanations in other grammar books or dictionaries such as Oxford Practical English Usage and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Maybe that usage of [/FONT]‘[FONT=&#23435]you had better[/FONT]’[FONT=&#23435] is old-fashioned? What do you say?[/FONT]
[FONT=&#23435]Many thanks.[/FONT]

 

[GoesStation]

In some contexts, should is milder than had better. It's far from universal though.

 

[Barb_D]

Will no one comment on how unnatural it is for a little boy to say "What's wrong with you?"

Is something wrong?
Are you okay?
Is everything all right?
Do you feel all right?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Often ‘had better’ implies a warning or a threat of possible bad consequences.

I think a possible bad consequence is that the old lady's condition will get worse.

 

[Skrej]

Thanks, guys. I read the following in a Longman grammar book.

In meaning, ‘had better’ is close to ‘should’ and ‘ought to’, but ‘had better’ is usually stronger. Often ‘had better’ implies a warning or a threat of possible bad consequences.
(Understanding and Using English Grammar, Longman)

After reading your posts, I’m a little confused. Can you show me where I misunderstood the explanation above in the Longman book?
Thanks again.

I would agree that 'Had better' is stronger in terms of suggestion compared to 'should' or 'ought to', but why the speaker chose the stronger suggestion is open to debate. It could be the result of a warning, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. Perhaps the speaker just prefers more direct language.

 

[Matthew Wai]

It could be the result of a warning

The following could be an example.
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/207863-Lest?p=1067018&viewfull=1#post1067018