Should you say “I’m well” or “I’m good?”
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When someone asks, “How are you?” do you ever pause and wonder whether you should say “I'm well” or “I’m good?”
Even though you may know you just need to choose between the adjective (good) or adverb (well) form, the word “well” hides a little secret that causes confusion.
”Well”—an Adjective and an Adverb
The confusion comes from the overlap between “well” as an adjective for “good” and as an adjective in its own right. As an adjective, “well” means “in good health” or “sound of body and mind.”
That is why saying, “John’s not a well man,” is a perfectly well built sentence, albeit sad for John.
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Two adjectives: good and well
Adjective: Good
Meaning: satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree; morally satisfactory.
comparative: better
superlative: best
adverb: well
Adjective: Well
Meaning: in good health; sound of body and mind.
comparative: better
superlative: best
adverb: well
Note. When you say, “Get well soon,” you are wishing someone to get healthy; you are not wishing a bad person to become a “good” person.