Had better

Conseil amical: had better

Un conseil formulé avec had better prend des connotations amicales :

You'd better (= had better) hurry if you want to catch the twelve o'clock train.
Tu ferais bien de te presser si tu veux attraper le train de midi.

You'd better (= had better) watch out.
Tu ferais bien d'être sur tes gardes.

Note: Il ne faut pas confondre 'd better (had better) et 'd rather (would rather) + prétérit, qui exprime la préférence de l'orateur:

I'd rather (= would rather) you didn't spend all that money. You'd better (= had better) keep it for a rainy day.
J'aimerais autant que tu ne dépenses pas tout cet argent. Tu ferais bien de le garder comme une poire pour la soif.

We'd rather (= would rather) you didn't see that girl again.  You'd better (= had better) find yourself someone of your own kind.
On aimerait mieux que tu ne revoies plus cette fille.  Tu ferais mieux de te trouver quelqu'un de ta propre classe.