you ‘had better not’ read it...
Why does ‘not’ in ‘you’d better not go there’ stands separately after ‘had better’ phrase but forms ‘hadn’t’ in the question:’Hadn’t you better go now?’ I see no logic here...
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Dave (unregistered)
August 31, 2004, 7:50am
Perhaps there is some logic to it, but I'd have to sit down and think about it some more. Language isn't always logical, in any case; nor should it be.
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marta (unregistered)
September 3, 2004, 5:28am
Maybe this lack of logic results from sb's mistake or not knowing proper grammar...
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Jessie (unregistered)
September 16, 2004, 6:00pm
Ummm...maybe because one means "Don't go" and the other means "Go." Meaning - the two uses have nothing to do with each other.
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Ben (unregistered)
September 18, 2004, 12:00am
Are you serious?
the reason the had and not are seperate is because they are meant to be.
Had better not - a threat saying that one should not do something if he does not want something to happen to him
Hadn't you - improper grammar "had not you" ????
I suppose it means you should
you should vs. you should not
two different meanings.
you tell me why the not is not next to the had.
:)
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speedwell2
September 19, 2004, 8:13am
Ben, if your best answer to a grammar question is essentially, "because that's the way it IS, dammit, and if you disagree, then up yours," then maybe you should reconsider posting.
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Bryan (unregistered)
September 23, 2004, 2:20am
Well in the first 'not' negates the action as in 'not going' 'not walking' while in the second is the negative form of a past tense event. 'To have had' or 'To not have'
I think 'shouldn't you go now?' would be more logical.
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