You better vs. You have better

Question

Which one is correct?

You better visit your family.

You have better visit your family.

You had better visit your family.

Related: I'd better vs I better – herisson Apr 25 '16 at 15:29 — herisson, Apr 25 '16 at 15:29

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 24 '16 at 20:40

5

"You have better" is not English.

"You had better" is normal English, meaning "you ought to"; it is usually reduced in speech to "You'd better".

"You better" is a common colloquial form of "You'd better": many people regard it as "wrong", and would not accept it in writing.

answered Apr 24 '16 at 20:40

Colin Fine

1

Why we use "had" for the present and the future? Why not use "have"? – user1187968 Apr 24 '16 at 22:07
It's neither present nor future: it's a suggestion. – TrevorD Apr 24 '16 at 22:49
Because that's what English does. (As with most "why" questions, that is the whole of the answer). – Colin Fine Apr 25 '16 at 12:00

1 Answers1