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It "IS" better worth something?

English translation: it better be worth


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14:34 Nov 13, 2010
English to English translations [PRO]
Slang / Grammar colloquialism (?)
English term or phrase: It "IS" better worth something?
Does "be" can colloquialy substitute "had" or "'d" in the expression "had/'d better"? I saw online:
(...)If I buy something and it has design faults, no mercy. Absolutely none. I had to work to pay for the article, so "it is better worth” the buck.
FNO
English translation:it better be worth
Explanation:
No, you couldn't say "it is better worth" even colloquially. The correct form is "it had better be" but if it's slang context , you should shorten to "it better be"

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Note added at 5 mins (2010-11-13 14:40:08 GMT)
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sorry, I mean "you could shorten" not "you should shorten"
Selected response from:

Sean Mullen
United States
Local time: 09:23
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7it better be worth
Sean Mullen
4 +3it had better be worth something
Noni Gilbert


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
it "is" better worth something?
it better be worth


Explanation:
No, you couldn't say "it is better worth" even colloquially. The correct form is "it had better be" but if it's slang context , you should shorten to "it better be"

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Note added at 5 mins (2010-11-13 14:40:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry, I mean "you could shorten" not "you should shorten"

Sean Mullen
United States
Local time: 09:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Noni Gilbert: Yes, you can reduce it to this colloquially. No objection!
0 min
  -> thanks, Noni!

agree  Tina Vonhof
24 mins
  -> thanks, Tina!

agree  Jim Tucker: Not so insane.
49 mins
  -> thanks, Jim!

agree  Phong Le
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Le

agree  Thayenga
2 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  British Diana: see my Discussion entry. I'm afraid this leaving off the had or 'd is accepted oral usage now. You better not worry! Thus one sees it in chats, just as one sees "should of" instead of "should have"
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Diana

agree  Mikhail Kropotov
7 hrs
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
it "is" better worth something?
it had better be worth something


Explanation:
An empty threat! The original is not slang, but someone who is inarticulate.

Now I await the wrath of "god"....

The article has cost money which has been difficult to learn, so the effort should be compensated by the quality of the article. If this turns out not to be the case, the speaker will be furious and may well take action.

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Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2010-11-16 12:31:17 GMT)
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Belated correction to typo in last paragraph above:
"The article has cost money which has been difficult to earn..."

Noni Gilbert
Local time: 03:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mikhail Kropotov
8 hrs
  -> Thank you Mikhail

agree  Cilian O'Tuama: it does be colloquialy substitute
13 hrs
  -> Thanks Cilian!

agree  Rachel Fell: I don't think omission of the "had/'d" is slang - it sounds either US, or if in the UK - well, rather under-educated - now I'm awaiting the wrath;-) (BTW, "earn" not "learn")
2 days21 hrs
  -> Thanks Rachel!
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