Good vs. Well

THX 1138

Jul 18, 2016

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Rule 3
The word good is an adjective, while well is an adverb.
- Examples:
  You did a good job.
  Good describes the job. You did the job well. Well answers how.
  You smell good today.
  Describes your odor, not how you smell with your nose, so follow with the adjective.
  You smell well for someone with a cold.
  You are actively smelling with a nose here, so follow with the adverb.
Rule 4
When referring to health, use well rather than good.
- Examples:
  I do not feel well.
  You do not look well today.
NOTE
You may use good with feel when you are not referring to health.
- Example:
  I feel good about my decision to learn Spanish.
Rule 5
A common error in using adjectives and adverbs arises from using the wrong form for comparison. For instance, to describe one thing we would say poor, as in, “She is poor.” To compare two things, we should say poorer, as in, “She is the poorer of the two women.” To compare more than two things, we should say poorest, as in, “She is the poorest of them all.”
- One              Two                     Three or More
  sweet              sweeter              sweetest
  bad              worse                     worst
  efficient       more efficient              most efficient
NOTE
Usually with words of three or more syllables, don’t add -er or -est. Use more or most in front of the words.
Rule 6
Never drop the -ly from an adverb when using the comparison form.
Rule 7
When this, that, these, and those are followed by nouns, they are adjectives. When they appear without a noun following them, they are pronouns.
- Examples:
  This house is for sale.
  This is an adjective here.
  This is for sale.
  This is a pronoun here.
Rule 8
This and that are singular, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns. This points to something nearby while that points to something “over there.”
- Examples:
  This dog is mine.
  That dog is hers.
  This is mine.
  That is hers.
Rule 9
These and those are plural, whether they are being used as adjectives or as pronouns. These points to something nearby while those points to something “over there.”
- Examples:
  These babies have been smiling for a long time.
  These are mine.
  Those babies have been crying for hours.
  Those are yours.
Rule 10
Use than to show comparison. Use then to answer the question when.
- Examples:
  I would rather go skiing than rock climbing.
  First we went skiing; then we went rock climbing.

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