【明報專訊】Poor Bill! Someone has messed with his bicycle! He's found a suspect and is interrogating him.

Bill: Eason! What were you doing after 10 o'clock last night?

Eason: 10 o'clock? I was taking a shower at home after watching the drama about vampires! It was an exciting episode!

Bill: What? You were lying! You had better tell the truth! The vampire drama was over last week! Weren't you doodling on my bike?

Eason: I... I was watching the recording. You had better not blame me without any evidence!

Bill: I remember there was a CCTV camera nearby. But if you are honest about it, I can forgive you.

Eason: No, I didn't!

Bill: I'd better check the CCTV footage myself. Let's wait and see!

■English highway﹕

We use the structure "had better (not) + infinitive" to give strong advice, or to tell people what to do. In spoken form, the short form "-'d" is more commonly used.e.g. I'd better leave early, or I will miss the train.

■Now you try

(Answers on next text)

Form sentences with the words below and "had better (not)".

1. I/ tell/ mom/ about my test results

__________________________________________

2. You/ your coat/ take off/ because/ it/ cold/ outside/ is

__________________________________________

3. is/ You/ later/ because/ John/ not home/ now/ call again/

__________________________________________

■Glossary

suspect (n) 疑犯

interrogate (v) 質問

episode (n) (連續劇)一集

doodle (v) 塗鴉

[Smarties' Power English 第206期]