Discussion Forum (Archived)
Guest
Hi there,
My husband and I agree that it is improper grammar to say "You did good," but he insists that "You did great," is correct. I tried to research this online, and found only one yahoo answers opinion which agrees with my husband "because great can be an adverb as well as an adjective".
To me, they sound similarly bad, and moreover, I'm not too clear on this explanation. Can someone help me out and, if possible, elaborate on why one or the other is correct?
Thank you!
Good is always an adjective and must modify a noun. If you use a linking verb (feel, seem, appear) good would be proper because these verbs do not show any action by the subject therefore good would modify the subject. "This shirt feels good" is proper because the shirt is what is good. "This shirt feels well" is improper because the shirt has no sense of feel. "I am good" and "I am well" are both correct, but good and well are both adjectives. Am is a linking verb and well describes health making it an adjective.
Now to the disagreement. I think there is an argument to be made that "did" is a linking verb because it is not specific. You can say "I did my work well." This would be specific. Or you can say "I did my mother's income tax well." Also specific. But I believe that to say "I did good" is not specific and the subject did not "do" anything in the sentence. Therefore "did" would be linking and "good" would modify "I".
I know this will be controversial and probably has little support but I believe it. None of this has anything to do with "great" because it can be an adjective or an adverb.
I'm with you, immunora: "You did great" sounds about as wrong (to me) as "you did good".
But why? I guess it's because I think of "great" as meaning "very good". But if "great" means "very good", then what corresponding adverb means "very well"?
"Greatly", I suppose. But that's silly; "greatly" means "very much", not "very well". Too late to adopt it for "very well" also.
If I were trying to avoid "you did great" (and I confess that I don't try to avoid it, or not greatly), the first substitute that would come to mind is "you did beautifully". I don't think that really answers the question, though.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
1 Guest(s)