Good is an adjective while well is an adverb answering the question how.

Examples:
You did a good job.
Good describes job, which is a noun, so good is an adjective.

You did the job well.
Well answers how the job was performed.

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.

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.” To get around this problem, you could answer, “I feel fine,” “I feel great,” or “I feel sick.”

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.

Answers

1. well
2. good
3. well
4. good

This entry was posted on Friday, April 6, 2007 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Adjectives and Adverbs, Good vs. Well. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.