good, well. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993

Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.

good (adj., n., intensifier), well (adv., adj.)


When following the linking verb feel, both good and well function as predicate adjectives: I feel good [well] today, although with careful control of context it is also possible to use well as an adverb after feel as intransitive verb, as in The sense of touch in the blind is much sharpened: they feel well and sensitively. Further, in Conversational contexts, I feel good means “I’m pleased, elated,” whereas I feel well usually means “I feel physically fine.” When used with the verb do, good is a noun and a direct object (We want to do good with our money), and well is an adverb (She did well on the exam). Good can also serve as adverb in Common and Vulgar English (My watch runs good again; This job pays good), and it is widely used in Standard Casual sporting contexts: She hits real good to right field. Finally, good is an intensifier, particularly in the spoken language, as in There was a good deal to be done; We had a good fifty students in attendance; She saw a good many of them. See BAD; FEEL BAD.	1