Lesson 24: I Feel Super!

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:

I’d / you'd / he'd / she'd / we'd / they'd better…

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…

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.

When we compare two or more things in the same sentence, we use the word than.

For questions, notice that the subject comes between would and rather. Example: Would you rather be able to fly or make a force field?