We commonly use the words good and well synonymously, but there is a thin line of demarcation between the two. When someone says “How are you?” we either say ‘I am good’ or we say ‘I am well’, both are correct, but they do not mean the same thing.
While I am good implies you are happy in your life, and everything is okay, I am well has nothing to do with happiness, as it implies that you are healthy, fit or fine. Let’s take a read of these sentences to understand them correctly.
- Joe performed well in the competition; he will get a good rank.
- Sherin had a good time here; she is now feeling well.
In our first example, well is used to define how Joe performed in the competition and we used the word ‘good’ to say that he will get a satisfying rank. In the next case, we used good to talk about the wonderful time Sherin had, whereas well denotes she is feeling better.
Content: Good Vs Well
- Comparison Chart
- Definition
- Key Differences
- Examples
- How to remember the difference
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Good | Well |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The word ‘good’ is used to denote fair or something of a desired quality. | The word ‘well’ is used to say that an action is performed in a pleasing or acceptable way. |
| Part of Speech | Adjective | Adverb or sometimes Adjective |
| Describes | A person, place, animal or any object. | An action |
| Examples | She is a good dancer. | She dances well. |
| Read some good books, for improving English. | Sophia speaks English very well. | |
| These cookies taste really good. | This dress goes well on you. |
Definition of Good
Good is an adjective, which implies that something is pleasant, positive, appropriate, right or of acceptable quality/quantity. As an adjective, it is used to give more description of a noun or a pronoun, i.e. person, place, animals and things. Let’s have a look at the points below to understand where it can be used, in sentences:
- It is used to refer satisfactory, convenient, pleasant or enjoyable:
- Harry got some good news.
- That’s a good idea.
- Riya and Anjali are good friends, since childhood.
- To indicate high in level, standard or quality.
- Is there any good gynaecologist in the town?
- I am not so good at cooking food.
- To greet people:
- Have a good day.
- To be able to perform an activity successfully:
- Paul is a good sand artist.
- To refer to healthy:
- Ani has been taken to the doctor, because she is not feeling good, since last night.
Definition of Well
The word ‘well’ is an adverb which describes the way in which something is performed. It indicates that the action has taken place ‘in a satisfactory or desired manner’. It can also be used as an adjective to mean all right, fit and fine. There are specific ways in which we can use well, take a look:
- To express that something has taken place in a right or desired way:
- Your presentation was really well.
- Albert is the only student who did well in the exams.
- To indicate to a great extent:
- It is a well-known fact that Mumbai is a crowded city.
- How well you know him?
- To reflect in addition to:
- This week I am planning to go to Mathura and Vrindavan as well.
- John promised me that he will take care of my belongings as well as other important stuff until I come back.
- As an adjective well usually follows a linking verb like looks, seems, to imply that ‘someone is in good health‘:
- She looks well today.
- It can also be used to suggest or recommend something or criticize it:
- Well, I think you should give him a second chance to prove himself.
The points given below are noteworthy, so far as the difference between good and well is concerned:
- When we regard something as ‘good’ we mean that thing is fair enough or possess the required standard or quality. In the other case, when we regard some activity as ‘well’, we mean that the action is performed in a satisfactory or acceptable manner.
- While good is an adjective, well is an adverb, but it can be used as an adjective also when we talk about someone’s health.
- As an adjective, the word ‘good’ is used to describe a noun or a pronoun, i.e. a person, place, animal or object. On the other hand, as an adverb, well modifies a verb (action), an adjective or another adverb.
Examples
Good
- Alan looks good in traditional outfits.
- Peter is good at making art and craft items.
- Carin has to study hard, to score good marks in the exams.
- One can try yoga, for good health.
Well
- Mr Whisley drives the car very well.
- Well done! My child.
- I can speak French very well.
- Jimmy is a well-focused person.
How to remember the difference
The crucial difference between good and well is that while ‘good’ is an adjective, whose adverb counterpart is ‘well’. While framing a sentence, just identify, what are you describing, if it is a ‘verb’ then use ‘well’ if it is a ‘noun or pronoun’ then use ‘good.’
Good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how. Sometimes well also functions as an adjective pertaining to health.
Examples:
You did a good job.
Good describes job, which is a noun, so good is an adjective.
You did the job well.
Well is an adverb describing how the job was performed.
I feel well.
Well is an adjective describing I.
Good vs. Well Rules
Rule: With the four senses—look, smell, taste, feel—discern if these words are being used actively to decide whether to follow them with good or well. (Hear is always used actively.)
Examples:
You smell good today.
Good describes you, not how you sniff with your nose.You smell well for someone with a cold.
You are sniffing actively with your nose here so use the adverb.She looks good for a 75-year-old grandmother.
She is not looking actively with eyes so use the adjective.
Rule: When referring to health, always use well.
Examples:
I do not feel well today.
You do not look well.
Rule: When describing someone’s emotional state, use good.
Example: He doesn’t feel good about having cheated.
So, how should you answer the question, “How are you?” If you think someone is asking about your physical well-being, answer, “I feel well,” or “I don’t feel well.” If someone is asking about your emotional state, answer, “I feel good,” or “I don’t feel good.”
Please see our post How Are You—Good, Well, or Fine?, which provides more discussion and helpful examples.
Pop Quiz
1. She jogged very good/well for her age.
2. She had a good/well time yesterday.
3. With a high fever, it is unlikely he will feel good/well enough to play basketball tomorrow.
4. Those glasses look good/well on you.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. She jogged very well for her age.
2. She had a good time yesterday.
3. With a high fever, it is unlikely he will feel well enough to play basketball tomorrow.
4. Those glasses look good on you.
Are you ready for the quiz?
Good vs. Well Quiz
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A Guide on Using “Good” or “Well”
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You’ve probably been told before that saying “I’m doing good” is incorrect. Is this true? We’ll explain the difference between “good” and “well.”
Quick Summary on “Good” or “Well”
- Good is typically used to describe nouns and well usually modifies verbs.
- However, there are a few exceptions to these rules.
- ○ This is good pizza. I can’t believe it’s homemade.
- ○ Luis played well. He scored 20 points.
You might have heard this once or twice: Superman does good. You’re doing well. Is it always wrong to use good when someone asks how you’re doing? Below, we’ll examine the rules behind these words and go over the exceptions.
Is “Good” an Adjective?
Good has multiple functions, but it is primarily used as an adjective, meaning it’s a word that modifies nouns (a person, place, thing, or idea).
Wow, this is a good book.
In this sentence, good is modifying the noun book.
That was a good performance.
That was a well performance.
In the example above, performance is a noun, and therefore it’s modified by the word good.
However, there are instances where good can modify non-action verbs like (to) be.
Raquel called and asked if the girls are being good.
Is “Well” an Adverb?
Well also has multiple functions, but it is mainly used as an adverb—words that modify adjectives or verbs. Specifically, well modifies action verbs.
Let’s explore the previous example sentence: You wouldn’t say, “Raquel called and asked if the girls are being well.” The correct version of this sentence using the word well would be:
Raquel called and asked if the girls are doing well.
In this sentence, doing is the action verb. However, this changes the meaning of the sentence, as being good and doing well mean different things.
Tiffany sang well in the performance.
Tiffany sang good in the performance.
Because sang is an action verb, it gets modified by the word well.
Exceptions to Using “Good” and “Well”
Like most English language rules, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, when you are referring to someone’s health, well can be used as an adjective.
I asked for a deadline extension because I was not well.
When talking about health, think of well as equating to healthy.
Another exception is that you can use good to modify linking verbs like feel, seem, and look. Think of James Brown when he sang “I Feel Good.” Here, he is not implying that he’s feeling healthy, but instead that he is feeling lively and that he is in good spirits.
So, it’s not technically wrong to say “I am good” when someone asks you how you are doing. But, if you want to be as grammatically correct as possible, you should follow the rule of thumb: use good to modify nouns and well to modify verbs.
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“Good” and “well” are two commonly used words in the English language, but they are often misused and confused with each other.
However, using the wrong term can make you sound silly or even unprofessional. This is why it’s time to clear up the good/well confusion and get people to take you seriously.
Whether you are a native English speaker or a non-native speaker learning the language, understanding the proper use of “good” and “well” is essential for effective communication.
“Good” and “well”—What they mean and how to use them
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“Good” is an adjective used to describe a person, thing, or situation that’s desirable, positive, or beneficial. It’s often used to express approval or satisfaction with something.
She has a very good teacher.
He used to be a good friend of mine, but now we barely say hi to each other.
In the examples above, the adjective “good” describes the nouns “teacher” and “friend.” The point is that “good” almost always precedes and describes a noun.
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When it comes to “well,” it’s an adverb that can be used in a few ways. Its primary meaning is to describe how something is done or performed. When used this way, it usually indicates that something was done satisfactorily or effectively.
Being an adverb means that it modifies a verb which is the word denoting an action in the sentence.
Even though we played well, we still lost the game.
Unfortunately, the project didn’t go well.
In the examples above, “well” modifies the verbs “play” and “go.” The key thing to remember here is that “well” almost always modifies an action or verb.
Good vs. Well
So what’s the difference between “good” and “well”? Although both words have similar meanings, they are different parts of speech. So if you need an adjective to describe something or someone, the chances are you need the word “good.”
And if you need an adverb to modify an action or verb, you probably need “well.” But like any other rule, this one also has an expectation.
Exceptions you need to be aware of
Although the word “well” is commonly used as an adverb, sometimes it’s used as an adjective. This happens when we describe or talk about someone’s health and usually with the verbs “look,” “feel,” and “be.”
How’s your father? He’s not well.
Is your sister well now? I know she had a car accident last Saturday.
Another exception is when we use linking verbs. In most cases, sensory verbs like taste, feel, sound, smell, and appear. Despite being verbs, they don’t go with the adverb “well” but with the adjective “good.”
This pretzel tastes so good.
I can tell you’re cooking because it smells so good.
Last but not least, we use “good” instead of “well” when referring to one’s emotional state.
I feel good about myself.
She didn’t feel good when her mom scolded her in front of everyone.
Are you sure you got the difference between “good” and “well”?
Answer these 6 questions and see the results!
I’m an ESL teacher with over 7 years of experience in providing original content. I really like writing educational articles which may help others learn some aspects of English.
В чем разница между GOOD и WELL?
Основное отличие заключается в том, что good — это прилагательное, а well — наречие.
Good переводится как «хороший» и используется для описания предметов или людей. Сочетается с существительными:
| We were good friends | Мы были хорошими друзьями |
Well означает «хорошо» и используется для описания действий. Сочетается с глаголами:
| We knew each other well | Мы хорошо знали друг друга |
Можно ли использовать GOOD с глаголами?
В качестве исключения good может сочетаться со следующими глаголами:
| to feel good | чувствовать себя счастливым |
| to look good | хорошо выглядеть |
| to smell good | хорошо пахнуть |
| to sound good | хорошо звучать |
| to seem good | казаться хорошим |
| to taste good | быть хорошим на вкус |
Есть ли исключения в использовании WELL?
Когда мы говорим о здоровье или благополучии человека, well выступает в качестве прилагательного:
| Steve hasn’t been feeling well recently | Стив в последнее время плохо себя чувствует |
| Sandra was seriously ill, but she is well now | Сандра была серьезно больна, но сейчас она здорова |
В разговорной речи можно услышать фразы “Be well” и “Be good!” Не путайте их: первая означает пожелание здоровья, а вторая — совет хорошо себя вести.
| Be good! | Будь умницей! |
| Be well! | Будь здоров! |
Словарь
| good | хороший |
| well | хорошо |
| good mood | хорошее настроение |
| good idea | хорошая идея |
| to do something well | делать что-то хорошо |
| to feel well | хорошо себя чувствовать (о здоровье) |
| to feel good | чувствовать себя счастливым |
Упражнение
Good or well? Попробуйте выбрать нужное слово, а затем прослушайте предложения:
| Sarah and Jane are good friends, they always support each other | Сара и Джейн — хорошие подруги, они всегда друг друга поддерживают |
| James and Anna don’t get on well. They’re always arguing. | Джеймс и Анна не очень ладят. Они всегда спорят |
| Julia is very good at languages | Джулия очень хорошо владеет языками |
| Liza speaks German very well | Лиза очень хорошо говорит по-немецки |
| The play was very good | Спектакль был очень хорош |
| Andy played very well, but he couldn’t beat Jake | Энди играл очень хорошо, но не смог победить Джейка |