Okay so a friend of mine and I are arguing the following about the English language:
I say that when asked "How are you doing?" unless it's in reference to your health, can not be answered, "I'm doing well."
My proof is from Dictionary.com which is owned by Webster's, who owns the English language.
"Usage Note: English speakers have used well both as an adjective and as an adverb since Old English times. When applied to people, the adjective well usually refers to a state of health..."
Example:"How did the test go?" It could not be answered, "It went well." As that would be improper according to Webster's. Instead it must be answered, "I did good."
Now what about the usage of good? This is what Webster has to say:
"Usage Note: Good is properly used as an adjective with linking verbs such as be, seem, or appear: The future looks good. The soup tastes good. It should not be used as an adverb with other verbs: The car runs well (not good). Thus, The dress fits well and looks good."
So what say you?
Also, Good is an adjective and well is a verb. It just doesn't work!
Grammar experts help! Please!
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Ok, I'm really tired and bored so I'll bite...
I say that when asked "How are you doing?" unless it's in reference to your health, can not be answered, "I'm doing well."
"How are you doing?" That pretty much IS inquriing about one's health, whether physical or otherwise. Plus, the "doing" is what's in question and "doing," being a verb, needs to be described by an adverb. "Well" is an adverb and should be completely acceptable as a modifier of "doing," making "I'm doing well." a valid response. (?)
Example:"How did the test go?" It could not be answered, "It went well." As that would be improper according to Webster's. Instead it must be answered, "I did good."
Because "well" is not being applied to a person(s), but rather the test-going, it doesn't need to be in reference to health. As for "I did good.", I think it would indeed be "I did well.", based on adverbs versus adjectives. "I am(+doing) well/good." is where the problem lies. I could probly type a thesis on that (and probably have half of it be wrong) but I'm falling asleep so I'll try to keep my babbling short(ish).
...Thus, The dress fits well and looks good."
Correct, because "well" is modifying how the dress fits (a verb) and "good" is being applied to the dress itself (being a noun). "The dress looks well." would mean that the dress actually has a sense of sight and does the action of looking itself. Just like saying "I feel well." (often referred to as "over correcting") means that you are adept at feeling things: like boobs.
Feel free to point out any glaring faults in my "logic;" I've made a bigger *** of myself before.
I say that when asked "How are you doing?" unless it's in reference to your health, can not be answered, "I'm doing well."
"How are you doing?" That pretty much IS inquriing about one's health, whether physical or otherwise. Plus, the "doing" is what's in question and "doing," being a verb, needs to be described by an adverb. "Well" is an adverb and should be completely acceptable as a modifier of "doing," making "I'm doing well." a valid response. (?)
Example:"How did the test go?" It could not be answered, "It went well." As that would be improper according to Webster's. Instead it must be answered, "I did good."
Because "well" is not being applied to a person(s), but rather the test-going, it doesn't need to be in reference to health. As for "I did good.", I think it would indeed be "I did well.", based on adverbs versus adjectives. "I am(+doing) well/good." is where the problem lies. I could probly type a thesis on that (and probably have half of it be wrong) but I'm falling asleep so I'll try to keep my babbling short(ish).
...Thus, The dress fits well and looks good."
Correct, because "well" is modifying how the dress fits (a verb) and "good" is being applied to the dress itself (being a noun). "The dress looks well." would mean that the dress actually has a sense of sight and does the action of looking itself. Just like saying "I feel well." (often referred to as "over correcting") means that you are adept at feeling things: like boobs.
Feel free to point out any glaring faults in my "logic;" I've made a bigger *** of myself before.
I'll take a stab at this one since I'm never any good at helping with car problems. =P
oh, and feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
so uh, in dictionary.com. . . well just read the first definition; the rest is just extra.
welladj 1: in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury; "appears to be entirely well"; "the wound is nearly well"; "a well man"; "I think I'm well; at least I feel well"
I've always learned that "well" is in reference to one's health so it would be improper to use "well" if you're talking about an object something. . .My English teacher used to emphasize this by accentuating the "good" in "You did good." after making an A on the quiz. (not me but the rest of the class =P )
um, also I think "How are you doing?" is more of a modern english lingo(?) Try thinking of it as "How are you?" or "How is your health?"
oh, and now that I think about it, "doing" is an -ing form of a verb and in this case, I think its being used as a gerund( -ing verb acting as a noun. Like 'I am playing' <--- "am" = verb, "I" = noun, "playing" = direct objects i.e. noun
and. . . well is an adjective so that means its something along the lines of modifying a noun and. . . wont be good at modifying verbs (that is if we're considering that "doing" is really acting like a verb form.
As you can see here, I'm horrible at collecting thoughts and writing papers but I hear I'm decent at editing papers =)
critique away!
oh, and feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
so uh, in dictionary.com. . . well just read the first definition; the rest is just extra.
welladj 1: in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury; "appears to be entirely well"; "the wound is nearly well"; "a well man"; "I think I'm well; at least I feel well"
I've always learned that "well" is in reference to one's health so it would be improper to use "well" if you're talking about an object something. . .My English teacher used to emphasize this by accentuating the "good" in "You did good." after making an A on the quiz. (not me but the rest of the class =P )
um, also I think "How are you doing?" is more of a modern english lingo(?) Try thinking of it as "How are you?" or "How is your health?"
oh, and now that I think about it, "doing" is an -ing form of a verb and in this case, I think its being used as a gerund( -ing verb acting as a noun. Like 'I am playing' <--- "am" = verb, "I" = noun, "playing" = direct objects i.e. noun
and. . . well is an adjective so that means its something along the lines of modifying a noun and. . . wont be good at modifying verbs (that is if we're considering that "doing" is really acting like a verb form.
As you can see here, I'm horrible at collecting thoughts and writing papers but I hear I'm decent at editing papers =)
critique away!
Oh, and anyone who answers "Oh, my blender is doing well today" might not be answering correctly because the blender isn't sick or feverish; it doesn't get sick one day and feel great another. The blender either works or is broken; it either works fine(good) or it sucks (not good?)
Well is just refering to a health so you can say "Oh yeah, my puppy's doing well today."
You could also say "My car's doing well" if you're the type to give your car a persona and. . . yeah. . . well, maybe not that last part
but yeahwell = good healthgood = . . . good =)
one more excerpt from http://www.dictionary.com
Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital. Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: a good exterior paint; a good joke. Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable: Is this a good dress for the party? Not spoiled or ruined: The milk is still good.
"Is the milk good?" "Yeah, it tastes good." (not "Yeah, it tastes well." <- sounds weird
ok, i'm done now =)sleep
Well is just refering to a health so you can say "Oh yeah, my puppy's doing well today."
You could also say "My car's doing well" if you're the type to give your car a persona and. . . yeah. . . well, maybe not that last part
but yeahwell = good healthgood = . . . good =)
one more excerpt from http://www.dictionary.com
Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital. Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: a good exterior paint; a good joke. Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable: Is this a good dress for the party? Not spoiled or ruined: The milk is still good.
"Is the milk good?" "Yeah, it tastes good." (not "Yeah, it tastes well." <- sounds weird
ok, i'm done now =)sleep
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/gd-wll1.html
take the quiz.looks like well is an adverb and good is an adjective afterall. . .
take the quiz.looks like well is an adverb and good is an adjective afterall. . .
ok, last post for the night or until someone else responds. this is a quick excerpt from some website
The Good or Well Dilemma
If there's a single usage error that can be said to be afflicting well-meaning Americans today, it's when to use "good" and when to use "well." A bad choice here can make one look incredibly nave. The problem centers around school warnings against "good" used as an adverb. For example, schools have rightly taught that He hits the ball "good" or She bowls "good" is incorrect. Yes, but while incorrect, the preceding errors are essentially minor and unlikely to provoke scorn.
The problem occurs when one develops an inordinate fear of good and begins substituting "well" in every normal "good" slot. Then egregious errors pop up. People then say, "Have a well day" or She's a pretty "well" singer. Horrors! The cure here is just to go with "good" and take the blame for an occasional slip.
However, purists will want to get it right. In that case, remember "well" is an adverb, for instance, she knits well. "Well" here modifies the verb knits. "Good," on the other hand, is an adjective. He's a good singer. Good modifies the noun singer.
The tricky decision happens after a linking verb which will not use an adverb. Therefore, I feel "good" or he's "good" at pool are correct because "feel" and "is" are linking verbs, and linking verbs don't take adverbs.
http://azaz.essortment.com/commongrammar_rfoi.htm
The Good or Well Dilemma
If there's a single usage error that can be said to be afflicting well-meaning Americans today, it's when to use "good" and when to use "well." A bad choice here can make one look incredibly nave. The problem centers around school warnings against "good" used as an adverb. For example, schools have rightly taught that He hits the ball "good" or She bowls "good" is incorrect. Yes, but while incorrect, the preceding errors are essentially minor and unlikely to provoke scorn.
The problem occurs when one develops an inordinate fear of good and begins substituting "well" in every normal "good" slot. Then egregious errors pop up. People then say, "Have a well day" or She's a pretty "well" singer. Horrors! The cure here is just to go with "good" and take the blame for an occasional slip.
However, purists will want to get it right. In that case, remember "well" is an adverb, for instance, she knits well. "Well" here modifies the verb knits. "Good," on the other hand, is an adjective. He's a good singer. Good modifies the noun singer.
The tricky decision happens after a linking verb which will not use an adverb. Therefore, I feel "good" or he's "good" at pool are correct because "feel" and "is" are linking verbs, and linking verbs don't take adverbs.
http://azaz.essortment.com/commongrammar_rfoi.htm
Ahh, the answers here are all very good, but mostly incomplete. Allow me to tie them together.
"Well" is an adverb that describes a positive state. For example: health, running condition, mental state, etc.
"Good" is an adjective that describes adequate or above performance levels of a particular inanimate object, whether real or otherwise. For example: color, fit, smell, etc. etc. It does not describe the qualifier however, where many get confused; It describes the object of the qualifier. "This girl smells good"; You get the point.
Now, where most people get confused is the linking verbs, as was stated above. Because, if you use an adverb, then you will describe the verb, which could come across weird. Let's take the example:
"I feel ..."
if we use "good" in this phrase, then we must assume that one is NOT talking about a positive state of being, for "well" would have been used. But since a person has feelings, states of being, this is not the correct word to use.
Now, if you say:
"This Dog feels good"
You are qualifying the tactile quality of the dog, but good is referencing the dog's physical attributes, and not his state.
Now "well" can be used as a performance qualifier, but only when desribing a task, and it can only reference the verb, or you will look stupid.
Hopefully this clears up your argument somewhat. Let me know if it doesn't, and I can go into further detail...
/Loves working for a university
"Well" is an adverb that describes a positive state. For example: health, running condition, mental state, etc.
"Good" is an adjective that describes adequate or above performance levels of a particular inanimate object, whether real or otherwise. For example: color, fit, smell, etc. etc. It does not describe the qualifier however, where many get confused; It describes the object of the qualifier. "This girl smells good"; You get the point.
Now, where most people get confused is the linking verbs, as was stated above. Because, if you use an adverb, then you will describe the verb, which could come across weird. Let's take the example:
"I feel ..."
if we use "good" in this phrase, then we must assume that one is NOT talking about a positive state of being, for "well" would have been used. But since a person has feelings, states of being, this is not the correct word to use.
Now, if you say:
"This Dog feels good"
You are qualifying the tactile quality of the dog, but good is referencing the dog's physical attributes, and not his state.
Now "well" can be used as a performance qualifier, but only when desribing a task, and it can only reference the verb, or you will look stupid.
Hopefully this clears up your argument somewhat. Let me know if it doesn't, and I can go into further detail...
/Loves working for a university
Re: Grammar experts help! Please!
Sircnay wrote:I say that when asked "How are you doing?" unless it's in reference to your health, can not be answered, "I'm doing well."
Although my grammatical skills might not be spot on, I consider myself to be an effective communicator. When dealing the question of "How are you doing?", the question lacks a context and therefore can be answered however the person being asked sees fit.
When women ask me how I am doing, I sometimes reply with, "I am doing IT far better than average." That leads the person to wonder what the IT is, and how I do it better than the next person. If she's a naughty hoe, then I can pretty much predict what her mind will substitute for IT.
I realize, maybe I'm not such an effective communicator, because I totally went off on a tangent that has very little to do with the initial question. Sorry about that.
