- 早く行った方が良かったでしょう。
Here, if we take it apart we shall have:
- 早く(Adverb) 行った(Verb, Past tense) 方(?) が(GA, Subject particle) 良かったでしょう(Verb, Past tense) 。
What is the function of 方 in this position? I've read that it can be suffix, suffix of what?
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1may we see some of the context for this sentence? I would like to provide a more accurate translation. – yadokari Aug 20 '12 at 16:46
2 Answers
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A方{ほう}がB means "more B if A" or "B-er if A":
早く行った方が良かったでしょう。
It would have been better [more good] if (we/you/I etc) had gone early, would it not?
The 方 here indicates a direction/side when comparing 2 or more things, in this case implying going early would have been better than going later.
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I agree with Cypher's explanation, and with the definition of 方 as a noun.
I would like to propose an alternative translation of the sentence:
早く行った方が良かったでしょう。
"The sooner you went, the better."
"The sooner you had gone, the better."
"It probably would have been better if you had gone sooner."
