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SpoonfedBaby Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Where to put the adverb WELL
Dear Teachers,
I would like to know if I can place the adverb "well" in another place in my sentence.
Thanks in advance,
SFB
I would like to know if I can place the adverb "well" in another place in my sentence.
"I use a special fillet knife to cut pieces of watermelon. The flexible blade follows the round skin shape of the fruit well."Since the object "the round skin shape of the fruit" is much longer than the adverb "well", I wonder if I can move the adverb before the object.
Thanks in advance,
SFB
Top answer
Hi, I'd say that you can do that with 'well', but we usually don't. It's the sort of thing that seems rather 'literary'. I think that whether or not it sounds OK would depend on the context.
- Hi, I'd say that you can do that with 'well', but we usually don't.
- It's the sort of thing that seems rather 'literary'.
- I think that whether or not it sounds OK would depend on the context.
- He understood the consequences of his actions well.
- He understood well the consequences of his actions.
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8 Answers
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Hi,
I'd say that you can do that with 'well', but we usually don't. It's the sort of thing that seems rather 'literary'.
I think that whether or not it sounds OK would depend on the context.
He understood the consequences of his actions well.
He understood well the consequences of his actions.
or
I'd say that you can do that with 'well', but we usually don't. It's the sort of thing that seems rather 'literary'.
I think that whether or not it sounds OK would depend on the context.
He understood the consequences of his actions well.
He understood well the consequences of his actions.
or
00
It is unusual to separate the verb from its object with an adverb that way.
I would therefore use "... follows well the round ..." and such structures extremely sparingly.
These sorts of structures are, in my opinion, only acceptable "in a pinch".
In the cited example, I would not admit defeat so soon. I would attempt a rephrasing of the thoughts so that the decision you are f
I would therefore use "... follows well the round ..." and such structures extremely sparingly.
These sorts of structures are, in my opinion, only acceptable "in a pinch".
In the cited example, I would not admit defeat so soon. I would attempt a rephrasing of the thoughts so that the decision you are f
00
Hello Clive, CalifJim and everybody,
I leave the “well” at the end of the sentence since it is English to do it so.
I leave the “well” at the end of the sentence since it is English to do it so.
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Hello SfB
"I use a special fillet knife to cut pieces of watermelon. The flexible blade follows the round skin shape of the fruit well."
I wonder whether the sentence itself is the problem, rather than the position of 'well'. What does 'round skin shape' mean, in the context of cutting up watermelon with the special knife?
MrP
"I use a special fillet knife to cut pieces of watermelon. The flexible blade follows the round skin shape of the fruit well."
I wonder whether the sentence itself is the problem, rather than the position of 'well'. What does 'round skin shape' mean, in the context of cutting up watermelon with the special knife?
MrP
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Hello MrPedantic,
I think my sentence would have been clearer if I had used the word "peel." Would it have been?
I think my sentence would have been clearer if I had used the word "peel." Would it have been?
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Hello SfB
I'm still having trouble envisaging the operation.
Why not ''the flexible blade follows the round shape of the fruit"?
MrP
I'm still having trouble envisaging the operation.
Why not ''the flexible blade follows the round shape of the fruit"?
MrP
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Cool watermelon treat in a hot sunny day
:
How to have nice mouth-bite size watermelon pieces? Cut the fruit in
:How to have nice mouth-bite size watermelon pieces? Cut the fruit in
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Ah! I see. The first part about 'cutting' refers to the operation as a whole.
So it's something like:
The flexible blade follows the round shape of the fruit inside its peel very well."
(Just for my own benefit.)
MrP
So it's something like:
The flexible blade follows the round shape of the fruit inside its peel very well."
(Just for my own benefit.)
MrP
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