Video Script
ANNA: Hi! I see you like superhero culture. Me too.
ANNA: In fact, tonight I’m going to the big superhero convention. Are you going?
YOUNG MAN: Um, I don’t know.
ANNA: Well, you'd better decide soon. Last year, it sold out.
ANNA: So, since we’re talking about superheroes: would you rather become a
superhero by accident, like Spiderman, or be born a superhero, like Wonder
Woman?
ANNA: Take your time. It’s a big question. I thought about it for days –
YOUNG MAN: Okay. If I had to choose, I’d rather be born a superhero.
ANNA: I’d rather become a superhero by an unexpected accident!
YOUNG MAN: Aren’t all accidents unexpected?
ANNA: Well, yeah.
YOUNG MAN: What was that!? Are you okay?
ANNA: I'm better than okay. I feel super!
PROF. BOT: Oh No! Anna was just hit by lightning. She had better get help.
PROF. BOT: We use had better to give advice. It is very informal and stronger
than should and ought to. For example, Anna says: “You'd better decide soon.
Last year, it sold out.”
PROF. BOT: When we use had better, we usually shorten the word had for personal
pronouns.
PROF. BOT: We use would rather to say what we or someone else prefers to do or
have. For example, the boy says: “Okay. If I had to choose, I’d rather be born a
superhero.
PROF. BOT: With would rather, we also shorten the word would when used with
personal pronouns. Keep watching and listen for had better and would rather.
YOUNG MAN: You’d better see a doctor.
ANNA: I’ve never felt better!
YOUNG MAN: You were just struck by lightning!! And what happened to your hair
and your clothes?
ANNA: I don't know. Wait, I do know. This is my super suit! And this is my
origin story.
YOUNG MAN: What are you talking about?
ANNA: An origin story tells the beginning of a superhero. You should know that.
YOUNG MAN: You're not making any sense, lady.
ANNA: I would rather be called Lightning Bolt Lady! It’ll sound great in a theme
song: Lightning Bolt Lady!
ANNA: Now, I need to find my superpowers --
YOUNG MAN: Um, I really think --
ANNA: Wait. Don’t tell me. I’ll read your mind. You are thinking you’d like to
be my super helper.
YOUNG MAN: I was not thinking that.
ANNA: ... that you’d like to live in a treehouse.
YOUNG MAN: No.
ANNA: … that you should eat more vegetables.
YOUNG MAN: Please, stop talking. You really should get some help.
ANNA: Mind reading is not my superpower. Maybe I can become invisible. I … am …
invisible!
ANNA: You can’t see me. Who am I? I’m not here. You can’t see me.
YOUNG MAN: I can see you and so can everybody else.
ANNA: No power of invisibility. Maybe I can create a force field. I feel it
working. Nothing can hurt –
(Someone throws a piece of paper and it hits her head.)
ANNA: Ow, that wasn’t very nice. I see I have a lot of work to do. Well,
goodbye, non-super person!
YOUNG MAN: Wait. I’d better go with you. You might get worse…if that’s even
possible.
ANNA: That's very nice of you, ordinary human. But I’d rather go by myself. This
is a quest.
YOUNG MAN: Every time you speak, I get more confused.
ANNA: A quest is a part of all superhero stories. You really need to work on
your superhero studies. Now, stand back. I’ve never flown before.
YOUNG MAN: And you’re not flying now.
ANNA: Flying is also not my superpower. That’s too bad. It's going to be
expensive to Uber everywhere. You know, I'd rather walk. It’s a nice day.
Goodbye, non-super person.
YOUNG MAN: I am not talking to strangers again.
ANNOUNCER: Will Lightning Bolt Lady find her superpowers … ever? Ouch! Did that
brick wall hurt? Will the young man ever talk to a stranger again?
ANNOUNCER: Find out on the next episode of Let’s Learn English! |
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation. |
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Practice |
Now, you try it!
First, read about had better and would rather below. Then, write one sentences
using each.
Use had better to give Anna advice about being a superhero
Use would rather to tell us what superpowers you prefer
For example, "I would rather be able to fly than make a force field."
Had Better / Would Rather
We use the modal had better to give advice and would rather to tell someone
about preferences.
When you see a pronoun with 'd after it, the 'd can be short for either had or
would. For example, sometimes I'd means I had. Other times, I'd it means I
would. Read more below.
Had Better
We use had better to give advice. It is stronger than should and ought to. It
tells us that there may be consequences if a person doesn’t take the advice.
Examples:
You had better decide soon. Last year, it sold out.
(Consequence: The conference might sell out.)
Anna had better be careful with her superpowers!
(Consequence: Someone could get hurt.)
The verb form is always had (not have) and we use a simple verb after had
better. We also usually shorten had with personal pronouns:
I’d / you'd / he'd / she'd / we'd / they'd better… |
| subject |
had better |
simple verb |
| I |
‘d better |
go |
| You |
‘d better |
see |
|
Sometimes, we use had better to show urgency. This is a more polite way to use
it.
Examples:
I’d better go with you. You might get worse.
(Urgency: You might really need help.)
You'd better see a doctor.
(Urgency: You are hurt and must see a doctor.)
Would Rather
We use would rather to say what someone prefers to do or have. It is very common
in spoken English.
We also shorten the word would with personal pronouns: I'd / you'd / he'd /
she'd / we'd / they'd rather… |
| subject |
would rather |
simple verb |
| I |
‘d rather |
be born |
| She |
‘d rather |
become |
|
|
We also use would rather to say what one person prefers some other person do.
When we do this, the subject and object are different. |
| subject |
would rather |
object |
past participle |
| The young man |
would rather |
Anna |
left |
|
|
When we compare two or more things in the same sentence, we use the word than. |
| first thing |
than |
second thing |
| I would rather be born a superhero |
than |
become one by accident. |
|
|
For questions, notice that the subject comes between would and rather. Example:
Would you rather be able to fly or make a force field? |
Test Yourself
How well do you know the grammar from Level 2? Test yourself!
In Lesson 24, you will see examples of grammar that you have learned in Level 2.
Look for sentences in Lesson 24 with:
Passive voice
Prepositions
Reflexive pronouns
Any grammar from Lessons 1 - 23
Then, write those sentences in the Comments section. For example: Passive Voice:
Aren't all accidents unexpected? |
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