Practice Makes Perfect

You’re a bad dog. (adjective modifying dog)

In bad weather we stay at home. (adjective modifying weather)

Your cut isn’t so bad. (adjective following linking verb is)

His reply sounded bad. (adjective following linking verb sounded)

You have a badly broken wrist. (adverb modifying participle broken)

They played badly today. (adverb modifying verb played)

Goodand Well

This pair of words is misused in much the same way as badand badlyand for some of the same

reasons. But there is extra confusion involved with goodand wellbecause the word wellcan be

either an adjective or an adverb, depending upon its usage. Wellis the adverbial form of good,

and it is also a word that means not illwhen used as an adjective.

Goodis the opposite of badand is an adjective. Notice how the adjectival and adverbial meanings

of this word are used:

Adjective Adverb

Miguel is a goodsoccer player. Miguel plays soccer well.

If goodmeans “kind,” you can use kindlyas its adverbial part:

Adjective Adverb

David is a goodman. He always speaks so kindlyof them.

But when wellis used with a linking verb, it is an adjective. You might hear someone say, “I don’t

feel good.” That usage is incorrect, for the meaning here is “not ill.” The correct usage is “I don’t

feel well.”

But that is not the end of the story of goodand well. They both can follow linking verbs, and they

both are in that instance considered adjectives. However, their meanings are different:

Sentence with Linking Verb Meaning

She looks good. She doesn’t look bad.

She looks well. She doesn’t look ill.

They are good. They aren’t bad. ORThey aren’t unkind.

They are well. They aren’t ill.

Fewand A Few

The difference between the words in this pair is not great. It is correct to say, “Few men are

strong enough.” You can also say, “A few men are strong enough.” But there is a slight difference

in implication between the sentences. Let’s look at some examples that will demonstrate this

difference:

126 Practice Makes Perfect: English Grammar for ESL Learners

06 (099-132B) Units 20-25 11/3/04 1:42 PM Page 126