Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

betty3827 · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 2

Are they different?

KazAV · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:15 am Post subject:

Yes. Good is used as an adjective and well as an adverb.

doliver · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 36

Actually, well has both adjectival and adverbial uses.

See the following:

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/well_1?view=uk

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=well

D. O.
_________________
Dennis Oliver
Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, AZ U.S.A.
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu

KazAV · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:25 am Post subject:

Thanks for pointing that out Doliver. I was thinking only of the correct usage of good and well against each other. I didn't point out that you can say "I am well" describing your state of health or in other adjectival manners.

LucentShade · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Nebraska, USA

KazAV · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

Exactly what I was thinking of when I posted. Thanks Smile

doliver · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 36

I was glad to see that someone pointed out how frequently people answer "How are you?" with "good" instead of "well." Purists would say that the answer is illogical, adding that it means something like 'I'm moral' instead of 'I'm in good health.' Languages change, however, and the answer with "good" seems to be getting more and more common.

D. O.
_________________
Dennis Oliver
Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, AZ U.S.A.
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu

KazAV · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

That is something you do notice a lot these days. Language is a living thing and always changing.