Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Better off

When should I use "better off" instead of just "better"?
The dictionaries I've consulted are not very clear...
Kiuhnm

 The dictionaries I've consulted are not very clear...
A quanto ne so...
You are better than me = Tu sei migliore di me
You are better off than me = Tu stai meglio di me (spesso inteso
economicamente)


You may lead an exemplary life and be better than your neighbor, but he may
still be better off than you.
Don't be jealous of him. Virtue is its own reward.
Joe from Massachusetts

 Don't be jealous of him. Virtue is its own reward.
Ok, but there are other cases. For instance, what about "You'd be better 
off doing that"? Isn't it roughly equivalent to "You'd better do that"?
Kiuhnm

 The dictionaries I've consulted are not very clear...
You'd better quit now.
You'd be better off (if you) quit now.
But the meanings are pretty different.
If you change jobs you'll be better off.

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news:47a48ca0$0$4784$4faf...@reader4.news.tin.it...
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No. "You'd be better off" doing something means that the end result of doing
that something is that you will be in a better position if you do something,
not that "you must do" something.
If there is a snowstorm and I tell you that you'd be better off taking one
road than another, I am expressing an opinion that your safety would be
better served if you take the road I suggest, but I'm not ruling out the
alternative.
If I told you you'd better take the road I suggest, there is an imperative
implication, and a suggestion that bad things will happen if you don't heed
my advice.
Joe from Massachusetts

 my advice.
I thought "you'd better do it" meant "faresti meglio a farlo". The 
Collins dictionary says that you use that expression to advise, warn or 
threaten someone, or just to express an opinion. It seems quite 
versatile to me.
I think one of the most difficult things to understand for a non-native 
speaker are these very nuances.
Kiuhnm

 I thought "you'd better do it" meant "faresti meglio a farlo".
"theres a new cherif in town, y'all'd better get used to it" sounds like 
its an imperative implication. in order to express an opinion I myself 
would say: "well, I'd suggest that y'all get used to it"
how about that?

 how about that?
And when you say "You'd better see a doctor"? Isn't that a suggestion 
and nothing more? It doesn't sound particularly imperative to me.
Kiuhnm


"Had better" is not used in polite requests. (See below).
«230
had better
1 meaning
We use had better to give strong advice, or to tell people what to do
(including
ourselves).
You'd better turn that music down before your Dad gets angry.
It's seven o'clock. I'd better put the meat in the oven.
Had better refers to the immediate future. It is more urgent than should or
ought. Compare:
I really ought to go and see Fred one of these days. - Well, you'd better do
it
soon - he's leaving for South Africa at the end of the month.
Had better is not used in polite requests. Compare:
Could you help me, if you've got time? (request)
You'd better help me. If you don't, there'll be trouble. (order/threat)»
(Swan, "Practical English")
Joe from Massachusetts

 "Had better" is not used in polite requests. (See below).
[...]
Understood, thanks.
Kiuhnm