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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Usage of the word "good"

Hello, I have a bet with a friend about the usage of the word "good". He says that the sentence "I can spell good." is not correct grammar, and it should be "I can spell well.". While I agree with my friend's idea, I always thought it wasn't a grammar rule and it is just suggested to use "well" instead of "good" in that context. Since good can be used as an adverb as well as an adjective, it should work well in that sentence. Can you please verify this rule for me?
  

Top answer

The word 'good' is grammatically an adjective ('he is a good man') or a noun ('for the good of the country'), not an adverb. Hence, although many people use it in ways like 'I can dance good', that usage is incorrect.

— Dinosm

  • The word 'good' is grammatically an adjective ('he is a good man') or a noun ('for the good of the country'), not an adverb.
  • Hence, although many people use it in ways like 'I can dance good', that usage is incorrect.
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4 Answers
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The word 'good' is grammatically an adjective ('he is a good man') or a noun ('for the good of the country'), not an adverb.
Hence, although many people use it in ways like 'I can dance good', that usage is incorrect.
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"I can dance good". You would need to use an adverb there. "I can dance well". In theory an adjective modifies a noun, and a adverb modifies a verb. If you want to use an adjective you would need a noun. "Are you a good dancer?"
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Some people here use ' well ' as a noun.

eg. I am very well, I hope you are in the well. Emotion: stick out tongue
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It's what the British call an "Americanism", as it seems to be a practice which originated there. Television and the internet mean the British are starting to do it too. In summary:

The English tend to use adverbs correctly.
The Americans do things different.

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