That’s a very good question!
You can use both, but the nuance is different.
行った as in 行ったほうがいい is the present perfect form. So, it focuses on the result of the action.
松井さん is saying 病院は行った方がいいですよ because she is referring to the benefits 斉藤さん will receive after seeing a doctor, such as knowing the cause of the earache or being able to get medicine.
On the other hand, 行く as in 行くほうがいい is the present or future form.
When you use 行くほうがいい, it focuses on a possibility in the future.
Example:
斉藤： A美術館とB美術館、どっちに行こうかな？
- Saito: Which museum should I go to, Museum A or Museum B?
松井： 人気のあるA美術館に行くほうがいいんじゃないですか？
– Matsui: I guess it’s better to go to the popular Museum A.
In this case, it seems all Matsui knows is that Museum A is more popular than Museum B.
And she suggests it might be better to go A because it’s popular and Saito might like it, too.
If Matsui had actually been to the Museum A, she would say 行ったほうがいい since she could imagine what Saito could see and feel after visiting there by her own experience.
No problem!
In other words,「xxxしたほうがいい」(It’s better to xxx, you’d better to xxx) can be used when someone gives the other advice, and it indicates the speaker has a good reason for saying it.
MP3
Why would it be 行ったほうがいい rather than 行くほうがいい in the first example? Is 行くほうがいい ever used?
That’s a very good question!
You can use both, but the nuance is different.
行った as in 行ったほうがいい is the present perfect form. So, it focuses on the result of the action.
松井さん is saying 病院は行った方がいいですよ because she is referring to the benefits 斉藤さん will receive after seeing a doctor, such as knowing the cause of the earache or being able to get medicine.
On the other hand, 行く as in 行くほうがいい is the present or future form.
When you use 行くほうがいい, it focuses on a possibility in the future.
Example:
斉藤： A美術館とB美術館、どっちに行こうかな？
- Saito: Which museum should I go to, Museum A or Museum B?
松井： 人気のあるA美術館に行くほうがいいんじゃないですか？
– Matsui: I guess it’s better to go to the popular Museum A.
In this case, it seems all Matsui knows is that Museum A is more popular than Museum B.
And she suggests it might be better to go A because it’s popular and Saito might like it, too.
If Matsui had actually been to the Museum A, she would say 行ったほうがいい since she could imagine what Saito could see and feel after visiting there by her own experience.
Does it make sense?
Yes, I understand a bit better now. Thanks!
No problem!
In other words,「xxxしたほうがいい」(It’s better to xxx, you’d better to xxx) can be used when someone gives the other advice, and it indicates the speaker has a good reason for saying it.
ハルが夫と離婚するなら、誰といるかも理由も分かりますよね。（笑）
本当ですね。旦那さんが、かわいそう。xD