Summary Anna gets hit by lightning and, suddenly, can do amazing things. Or can she? Conversation 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! New Words announcer – n. a person who gives information on television or radio become – v. to begin to be or come to be something brick – n. a small, hard block of baked clay that is used to build structures, such as houses, and sometimes to make streets by accident – expression. in a way that is not planned or intended create -- v. to make or produce something convention – n. a large meeting of people who come to a place for usually several days to talk about their shared work or other interests consequence – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions decide – v. to make a choice about something force field – n. an invisible or transparent shield of energy that some superheroes produce as a form of protection human – n. a person invisible – adj. impossible to see lightning – n. the flashes of light that are produced in the sky during a storm origin story – n. a story that informs the identity and motivations of heroes and villains in a comic book prefer – v. to like someone or something better than someone or something else power – n. physical force or strength quest – n. a journey made in search of something stand – v. to be in an upright position with all of your weight on your feet superhero – n. a fictional character who has amazing powers, such as the ability to fly superpower -- n. a special power that only superheroes have super suit – n. the special clothing that a superhero wears theme song - a piece of music from a television program or film that is remembered as the music that represents that program or film Uber – v. to ride in an Uber car unexpected – adj. not expected urgency – n. something that is very important and needs immediate attention wall – n. the structure that forms the side of a room or building 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: He’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? Listening Quiz See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: had better; would rather Topics: giving warnings; giving advice Comments Let us know what you think about this lesson. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page.
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