"How are you?" Very well or very good? What's the diference?

Question

So "very well" is the right way to answer. But if you answer "very good", will you sound like a moron or is it still acceptable in a conversation?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, you have received some incorrect answers to your query. In reality, an adjective, not an adverb is called for here. "Are" is a linking verb, used to link the subject of the answer ("I") with an adjective. So you are not modifying a verb but a pronoun. Think of it this way: you would automatically know to say, "I am happy" not "I am happily."

Furthermore, "How are you" more accurately means "How are you feeling" as opposed to "How are you doing," which is colloquial. And the verb "to feel" is also a linking verb in this usage. Thus you may feel sad, but you don't feel sadly. Once again, you are not modifying the verb but rather describing the subject.

The confusion arises because "well" can be either the adverbial form of "good," which we don't need here, or an adjective, meaning "not sick," which might apply here. So, grammatically speaking, "very well" or "very good" are acceptable.

Answer 2

Grammatically the correct answer is "very well, thank you," but in normal conversation most folks would say: Very good!

What's the difference?

Good is an adjective. An adjective modifies or describes a noun.
Well is an adverb. An adverb modies a verb, and adjective or another adverb.

When asking how are you? The answer modies how you ARE. So the correct answer should be the adverb, WELL.

Hope this is clear.

Answer 3

the correct response grammatically would be very well.

this is because well can be an adverb but good is always an adjective. In the sentence "how are you," "are" is a verb, therefore in order to answer you must use an adverb.

Isn't the English language amazingly super fantastically fun!?!?! lol *sarcasm* Personally I find that people won't care what you say in normal conversations unless they're stuck up or are super duper grammar lovers! and really, how many of those ppl are out there? lol, so I'm always saying good, lol

Answer 4

"How are you" is what is wrong here. It doesn't make it clear what is being asked. How are you feeling? How are you in respect of your health? How are you at tennis?

I always say, "Doing fine," or just, "Fine, thanks." But if a person says, "Good" to this question, it is still not wrong, because it could be that he is being asked How are you feeling, and you can say I am feeling good....

I remember reading about English as used in various places in the world, and there was a section on how people in India use the language. This exchange between two people in India was given:
-How are you, I hope.
-Oh, yes.

Answer 5

How am I? Very well thank you.
How am I? Damn Good!
I feel great, and I have the confidence to tell you I am the best at what I do.
So I guess the context of the conversation is what is impotent here.

Answer 6

"Good" is an adjective, and adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. "Well" is an adverb, and an adverb is how you modify a verb. In this case, the understood verb is "doing." When we ask "How are you?" we are in fact asking, "How are you doing?" Likewise, when we answer, we are saying "I'm doing well." Thus, the adverb "well" modifies the verb "doing."

When I'm asked how things are going, I usually say, "Doing well, thanks." That pretty well covers the territory, and doesn't sound stilted.

Answer 7

We use both. But one is correct. If someone asks you, 'How are you?' The response should be along the lines of your health..."Very well, thank you (or thank you for asking)" is the proper response.
Very good has become popular too, good meaning that you feel good. But well is better.

Answer 8

"Well" is the correct response, grammatically.
If you answer "good" you're not answering the question.

You did this well vs. you did this good.

The latter is obviously wrong.

Answer 9

Depends on my mood, and to whom I'm speaking.

To someone I'd want to be formal with "very well".

Actually I do not use either of those.

"I'm good" "I'm great" Those are my answers.

Answer 10

very well is good grammar. very good is bad. if u want more, really well is bad grammar along with really good.