what's the difference between "good" and "well"?

Question

I know "good" is an adjective and "well" and adverb. I´m looking for differences in use. For instance, when do I answer something is "good" or something is "well".

Answer 1

well is good.

Answer 2

If a person "does well," the implication is that she is making a lot of money. If she "does good," she is doing something good.

When asked how you are doing, you can answer "I'm doing well" to indicate that you feel good (here, "well" modifies the verb "do," and "good" modifies your state or feeling).

Which would you choose for each situation? Your ear will probably tell you the right answer, and you can derive the rule pretty well from that.

How is the weather? (good)
How did you do on the test? (well)
How are your grades this term? (good)
How do you feel? (either, but "good" refers to an unspoken noun)
Are you well? (healthy)
Are you good? (ethical - but this is used in slang as the equivalent of "are you well?")
How is your mother? (either, but "good" implies a reference to health)
How is your mother's health? (good)

I think the confusion comes with idiomatic English, which simply means slang that's so old it's become the rule. "I'm doing good" has acquired the same adverbial meaning as "I'm doing well," so much so that people have to clarify whether they mean profit or charity.

I think the wiggly verbs like "do" - verbs that have a lot of sayings and usages attached to them, and many dictionary entries - tend to confuse distinctions that make sense elsewhere.

Wait till you try to learn the idioms in other languages. Yowza, that's hard!

Answer 3

Good is an adjective
Well is an adverb

Since good is an adjective, it would be used to modify a noun or a pronoun. (That dinner was good.)

Since well is an adverb, it would be used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. (He ran the race well.)

Answer 4

The difference between "good and "well" is that "good" means that something is not bad or rotton. Good can also mean that you'r behavior was not bad. "Well" means that something is a little or enough not bad to last. In the phrase "You are doing 'well'", well means that you are not doing good but not bad either. In the phrase "You are doing 'good'", good means you are doing the right thing.
In some cases though, good and well may mean the same thing. But that is why you asked. Forget that.

Answer 5

Good , better , best are three degrees of difference. Good can also be a noun as a term, as doing something for someone's own good. Well is a state of being . I am well means I am healthy. I am good means I am a good person. I can do well at something, but I can do good , meaning good deeds.

Answer 6

good - moral excellence.

example >>>there is much good to be found in people

well - an abundant source.

example>>>she was a well of information.

Answer 7

Examples of "good":

Sue is good at tennis. (Good describes Sue).
I try to do good things for others. (Good describes things).
Good news travels fast. (Good describes news).
I am having a really good day. (Good describes the day).
Good for you! (Good describes the understood subject "It".)

Examples of "well":

I am (doing) very well today, thank you! (Well tells how you are doing).
You did well on yesterday's test. (Well tells how you did.)
I think I did well, too. (Well tells how you did.)
Sue plays tennis very well. (Well tells how Sue plays.)
He doesn't dance well. (Well tells how he doesn't dance.)
I don't know her well. (Well tells how you don't know her.)
How well do you know her? (Well tells how you know her.)
Tommy plays well enough to go pro. (Well tells how Tommy plays).

Answer 8

how are you?
"i am good"
"i am well"

how do you think you did in the test?
"good"
"i think i did well"

to tell you the truth - i doubt there is a difference