Verbos en Inglés
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Should / Had better

B1 - Intermedio · Unidad 2: Modales y obligación

Should / Had better (consejo/advertencia)

should y had better se usan para dar consejos. Had better suena más fuerte, como una advertencia (“es mejor que lo hagas…”).

1) Mapa rápido

should = deberías (buen consejo) had better = más vale que… Consejo general → should Situación seria / consecuencias → had better shouldn’t = no deberías had better not = será mejor que no…

Idea clave:
• should = recomendación normal, educada.
• had better = consejo fuerte + posible problema si NO lo haces.

2) Formas básicas

FormaEstructuraEjemplos
should Afirm: Sujeto + should + base verb
Neg: Sujeto + shouldn’t + base verb
Preg: Should + sujeto + base verb…? 		You should study more.
You shouldn’t eat so much sugar.
Should I call him?
had better Afirm: Sujeto + had better + base verb
Contracción: Sujeto + ’d better + base verb
Neg: Sujeto + had better not + base verb
Preg (menos común): Had + sujeto + better + base verb…? 		You had better leave now.
You ’d better take an umbrella.
You had better not be late.

Después de should y had better el verbo va en forma base (sin “to”): should go, had better stay.

3) Usos de should

A) Consejo y recomendación

  • You should drink more water.
  • He should see a doctor.
  • They should try this restaurant.

B) Opinión sobre lo correcto

  • People should respect the environment.
  • Children should do their homework.

C) Preguntas pidiendo consejo

  • What should I do?
  • Should we call the police?
  • Where should we go on holiday?

4) Usos de had better (advertencia)

Had better se usa cuando:

  • La situación es importante o hay posibles consecuencias negativas.
  • Suena como: “Más te vale…” / “Será mejor que…”.

• You had better leave now, or you’ll miss the bus.
• She had better study, or she might fail the exam.
• You had better not be late again.

Contracción muy común: You ’d better hurry. (= You had better hurry.)

Had better se usa casi siempre en presente/futuro cercano; no es común en pasado ni en situaciones informales muy suaves (ahí es mejor should).

5) Should vs Had better vs Must/Have to

FormaFuerzaUso típicoEjemplo
should Consejo normal Lo recomendable You should rest. You look tired.
had better Consejo fuerte + advertencia Si no lo haces, puede haber un problema You had better rest, or you’ll get sick.
must / have to Obligación Reglas, necesidad fuerte You have to rest. The doctor said so.

Orden de “fuerza” (más suave → más fuerte):
should → had better → must / have to.

6) Errores comunes

IncorrectoCorrectoPor qué
*You should to study more.* You should study more. Después de should va verbo base, sin to.
*You had better to go now.* You had better go now. Después de had better también va verbo base.
*You have better go now.* You had better go now. La forma correcta es had better, no “have better”.
*You don’t should smoke.* You shouldn’t smoke. La negativa de should es shouldn’t, no “don’t should”.
*You better go now.* (examen) You ’d better go now. En inglés coloquial algunos dicen “You better…”, pero en exámenes usa ’d better.

7) Mini-práctica

  1. Elige should o had better:
    a) You look really sick. You ______ go to the doctor. (consecuencia seria)
    b) It’s a nice day. You ______ go for a walk. (sugerencia suave)
    c) The exam is tomorrow. You ______ study tonight, or you’ll fail. (advertencia)
    d) Your room is a mess. You ______ clean it. (consejo de los padres)
  2. Completa con should o shouldn’t:
    a) You ______ eat so much fast food. It’s not healthy.
    b) I think you ______ talk to your boss about this problem.
    c) He ______ smoke in the house. It’s bad for the children.
    d) We ______ be late. The movie starts at 8.
  3. Reescribe usando had better o had better not:
    a) It’s very late. If you don’t go now, you’ll miss the last bus.
    → You ____________________________________________.

    b) If you smoke here, the teacher will be angry.
    → You ____________________________________________.

    c) If he doesn’t study, he might fail the test.
    → He ____________________________________________.

    d) It’s going to rain. If we don’t take an umbrella, we’ll get wet.
    → We ____________________________________________.
  4. Corrige las frases si es necesario:
    a) You should to go to bed early.
    b) She don’t should eat so much sugar.
    c) You had better to call him now.
    d) You have better not be late.
  5. Traduce al inglés usando should o had better:
    a) Deberías estudiar más inglés.
    b) No deberías ver tanta televisión.
    c) Será mejor que llegues a tiempo. (advertencia)
    d) Deberíamos llamar a un taxi.
    e) Será mejor que no le digas nada. (advertencia fuerte)

Respuestas ejemplo:
1) a) had better b) should c) had better d) should
2) a) shouldn’t b) should c) shouldn’t d) shouldn’t
3) a) You had better go now.
b) You had better not smoke here.
c) He had better study.
d) We had better take an umbrella.
4) a) You should go to bed early.
b) She shouldn’t eat so much sugar.
c) You had better call him now.
d) You had better not be late.
5) a) You should study more English.
b) You shouldn’t watch so much TV.
c) You had better arrive on time.
d) We should call a taxi.
e) You had better not tell him anything.

8) Próximo paso

Continúa con Might / May / Could (posibilidad) para aprender a hablar de cosas que quizá pasen en el futuro o podrían ser verdad ahora.