Hello, my dear friends! Welcome to Series English!
Today I want to talk about the difference between good and well.
To some it might mean obvious,
but there are some additional aspects
which might confuse you, so be careful.
Let's just dive into the difference, so.
First if all we should remember that
good is an adjective and well is an adverb.
This is some general information,
General Information! Well, anyhow...
Your English is good!
Good describes a noun -
English, good English.
You speak English well.
Here well is connected with the verb -
speak, speak well, speak English well.
She's a good swimmer.
Once again good is connected with a noun,
it is an adjective, good I mean.
She swims well.
And well is an adverb,
because it describes a verb - swims.
How does she swim? She swims well.
Now secondly, well is used with past participles
to create some descriptions.
Well-dressed, well-known, well-educated, well-paid, well-said.
For example:
I'd like to find a well-paid job
where I'll have to do nothing.
Ha-ha-ha!
So well is used with past participles, not good.
You do not say good-dressed or good-educated, no.
Well-dressed, well-known, well-educated, well-paid, well-said and others.
When we talk about four senses and use the verbs
look, smell, taste and feel,
here's the difference we need to understand:
When we use these verbs actively,
so somebody does the action, he's involved,
he's doing something, he's looking, he's smelling,
he's tasting and feeling something,
then we use well.
But when the verbs is connected with the subject,
with how the subject looks like,
how the subject smells,
then we use good.
Let's take a look at a couple of examples,
it will get clearer.
Mmm, you smell good today, what perfume are you wearing?
Is it just you? Wow!
You smell good today, so it is all about you.
The smells around you, your smell is good.
That's why we say good, not well.
You are not doing anything here.
You are not active, you are not smelling anything.
It is your smell which is good, you smell good.
But you smell well for someone with a cold.
So you manage to smell something, coffee somewhere.
And I am surprised,
because you are with a cold and you smell well,
actively, that's why well.
It looks good on you, a dress for example.
The dress doesn't do anything here,
that's why we say good, not well.
And the same about all these verbs.
And the last point here.
When you usually answer the question 'How are you?'
we can say 'I am good' or 'I am well'
and the meaning will be different.
So good is all about emotions,
and well is about health.
I'm well. So you are not ill or something.
I feel well - I am healthy.
I feel good.
So my emotional state is great!
I don't feel well today, I think I've caught a cold.
So my health, there's something wrong with my health.
He doesn't feel good about having quit his job.
He doesn't feel good about having cheated.
So here the problem lies within his soul,
not his physical health.
So good is about emotions, well is about health.
So when someone asks you: 'How are you?'
You can say good
if you think that he's troubled about your emotional state.
Or you can say I'm well,
he's worried about your health.
So that's it about the difference between good and well.
I hope that now it is clear to you.
But if you have any questions feel free to write to me.
I also have a lesson about the difference between
bad and badly.
You might watch it too.
And about the difference between
adjectives and adverbs used in different circumstances.
But that's it, I hope that you liked the video,
if you did, please, press the button, like it.
Share, subscribe to my YouTube channel
if you want to continue studying English with me.
And I hope to see you soon! Happy English and Russian practice! Bye!
High five! I hope you are well!
And you feel good about yourself!