What is the difference between good and well. These two words might seem similar, but they’re used in very different ways. Understanding when to use good and when to use well can make a big difference in how natural and accurate your English sounds.
In this lesson, we’ll break it all down step by step. We’ll start with well, exploring how it’s used to describe actions and the importance of having an actor in the sentence. Then, we’ll move on to good, which is all about describing the quality of people, places, things, or ideas. Finally, we’ll look at a few exceptions to the rules—specific cases where well can be used in a way that might surprise you.
The Real Difference Between ‘Well’ and ‘Good’
Definition of “Well”
Let’s start with well. The word well is used to describe an action—something that can actually be done. It can be done physically or mentally, but there has to be an action within the sentence. The other rule with well is that you must also have an actor in the sentence—someone or something who can do that action.
So, if you have an actor and an action, and they make sense together for what you’re trying to say, you should use well. Let me show you:
- I played well.
Play is something someone can do, so it’s an action, and I am the actor. I played, so I’ve got an actor and an action, and they make sense together. So, we use well.
- She didn’t sleep well last night.
The action here is sleep. Sleep is something a person can do, and she is the actor—she was the one trying to sleep. So, I have an actor, I have an action, and they make sense together. So, I use well.
- My computer still works pretty well.
The action here is works. Work is something a computer can do, and the computer is the actor. It is the thing that works. So, I have an actor, I have an action, and they make sense together. So, we use well.
- He seems to be doing well.
The action here is doing—living, existing, going about one’s life—and he is the actor. He is doing. So, I have an actor, I have an action, and they make sense together. So, we use well.
So, remember: we use well to describe an action, but that action must be associated with an actor—someone or something who could actually do that.
The Definition of “Good”
Good does not describe the quality of actions. Good only describes the quality of nouns—people, places, things, and ideas. Like this:
- I’m not very good at basketball.
In this sentence, I’m just describing my ability, my level. There’s no action taking place. No one’s actually doing anything in the sentence—no one’s playing basketball. We’re just talking about how skilled I am, so we use good.
- She’s a good nurse.
We do have an actor—she—but there’s no action. There’s nothing that she’s actually doing. Instead, we’re just describing how talented she is at nursing, so we say that she is good.
- My grades are pretty good right now.
We’ve got an actor—the grades—but they’re not doing anything. There’s no action in this sentence. We’re just talking about the quality of my grades, so we say good.
Now, because of this whole quality thing, good is also used with your five senses:
- The soup tastes good.
Taste is an action. You can do it; you can taste things. So, shouldn’t we use well?” The answer is no. Remember, to use well, you must have an actor that goes with that action and makes sense. So, what would your actor be in this sentence? The soup. So, you’re saying the soup is doing the tasting—like the soup has a tongue and is tasting stuff? No, that doesn’t make sense. We’re just describing the quality of the taste. No one’s actually doing any active tasting in the sentence.
- That picture doesn’t look good.
Same thing here. Yes, look is an action—it’s something we can do; we can look. But what’s the actor? Picture. So, the picture is looking at stuff with its little picture eyes? No, that’s not what the sentence is trying to say. This sentence is talking about the quality of the picture—no action—so we use good.
More Examples: Good vs. Well
Here are some examples. Remember: with well, we need an actor and an action, and they must make sense together. With good, we’re just talking about the quality or level of a noun—not an action.
- You don’t listen very good.
Or, You don’t listen very well.
I see an action—listen. You can do that; you can listen. Do we have an actor that makes sense with that? Yes—you. Can you listen? Yes. So, we use well: You don’t listen very well.
- I didn’t know her that good.
Or, I didn’t know her that well.
Check for an action. I see know. That’s something you can do with your mind, but it’s still an action. Do we have an actor that makes sense with that? Yes—I. Can I know things? Yes. So, we use well: I didn’t know her that well.
- Those cookies smell really good.
Or, Those cookies smell really well.
Check for an action. Yes—smell. Smell is an action; it can be done. But do we have an actor that makes sense with that? Our only option is cookies. So, we’d be saying the cookies are doing the smelling—that they are the actor. Is that what the sentence is trying to say? No. We’re just talking about the quality of the smell, so we use good: Those cookies smell really good.
- Most people think I’m a pretty good athlete.
Or, Most people think I’m a pretty well athlete.
Is there an action here? Well, there’s think—people think—but there’s no action associated with athlete. No one’s doing anything athletic in the sentence. We’re just talking about how skilled of an athlete I am, so we use good.
Specific Cases Where Exceptions Apply: Good vs. Well
These are specific cases where the rules for good and well do not apply as normal. These cases are: feel well, look well, and am/are well.
If you are very specifically talking about health, then these constructions can work. But only with health.
Why These Are Exceptions:
Normally, you wouldn’t say, I don’t feel well, because well goes with actors and actions. So, saying, I don’t feel well, sounds like you’re saying you’re not very good at feeling stuff. And saying, He doesn’t look well, seems like you’re saying he’s not very skilled at seeing or noticing things. And I am well or Are you well? has no action at all.
If it was a simple matter of quality, you’d use good. That’s why these are exceptions—they don’t follow the rules.
So, if you’re talking about health—like you have a headache, your stomach hurts, or you have the flu—then these constructions can work. For example, if someone asks how you’re feeling, and it’s obvious they’re asking if you’re sick, you could say, I am feeling well, or, I am well. But in pretty much every other situation, you’d use good. Like, if someone’s asking about your day or your mood, you’d say, I feel good, or, I’m good.
Examples of Correct Usage in Health Contexts:
In these specific situations—when talking about actual health—the word well can function as an adjective and make sense: I feel well, I don’t feel well, I am well, Are you well?, You don’t look well. But only with health. Otherwise, use good.
When Not to Use These Exceptions:
Remember, these are exceptions—they are not the norm. Normally, statements of quality use good, and well is an adverb used with actors and actions.
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