I am reading the above title (Philip Gucker, Dover Press, 1966). In the section on adverbs, he writes, "'Good' and 'well' should be carefuly differentiated. 'Good' is always an adjective. 'Well' is usually an adverb; but it is used as an adjective for certain meanings--attractive, satisfactory, in good health..."
He goes on to give several examples. In one among them, "Mrs. Klein looks *well* in that dress," he suggests "well" functions as an adjective. I would have thought its function was adverbial. Am I daft, or is he mistaken?
He's right. 'Looks' functions as a linking verb (similarly as the verb 'to be') in the example above and 'well' functions as a predicate adjective. He could have also used 'good' as the predicate adjective.
However, he could have also meant 'well' to be an adverb with 'looks' functioning no longer as a linking verb, but as an intransitive verb in a different context:
1st speaker: "Only those who look well to find lost objects will find them."
2nd speaker: "Mrs. Klein has lost something in the parlor."
3rd speaker: "Oh, she'll find it!"
4th speaker, "Certainly. Mrs. Klein looks well."
In that context, 'well' functions as an adverb; in the context you cited, 'well' functions as an adjective.
Am I daft, or is he mistaken? Are you implying that these might be mutually exclusive?
I think maybe it's all the fault of the song.
"Hey, good-lookin'..."
"Implying"
No, of course not. The "or" is inclusive.
Ugh! I cannot imagine my using that construction in the context presented. Ugh!
"Darling, that dress looks good on you." Versus, "Darling that dress looks well on you."
Compare:
"Oh, that sandich smells good." or "Oh, that sandwich smells well."
Further:
"Oh, that sandwich looks good." or "Oh, that sandwich looks well."
I don't look well but I feel pretty good.
I think what's going on is that there are some assumed words here, which is what makes an adjective seem as though it's an adverb:
Mrs. Klein looks as though she is good in that dress.
Bing Crosby has a line in either "Holiday Inn" or "White Christmas" in which he tells someone that she looks well--and he isn't referring to her health. It sounds odd to my ear, too, Ted, but it's okay, odd or not.
I believe it's just a case of usage that's fallen out of favor.
Now the one I *really hate is "I feel badly."
One who "feels badly" prolly ought to take feeling lessons in order to do it better.
prolly ought to take feeling lessons in order to do it better.
A sign in The Old Portland Tonsorial Parlor, located in Oregon on the Left Coast, reads: IT PAYS TO LOOK WELL." One may obtain both a haircut and a shoeshine at this establishment but not lessons in looking, to the best of my knowledge.
Those who break into safes shouldn't feel badly. In fact, don't they file off the skin on the ends of their fingers to feel better?
re: In fact, don't they file off the skin on the ends of their fingers to feel better?
Oh, WW, you are so good, so pure, so innocent..
i thought Mav was addressing the needs of the make out artists(to be) who haven't yet become as international as Mav..
you know, international guys(from my youth) the kind that had Rom'n hands, and russin fingers..
Lacking facility, they might feel badly.. (and grope your arm (or worse yet, your armpit) when attempting to grope more erotic parts!)
He tried to fix that thought in case it came in useful, but some mental processes were fully occupied with the growing realization of how well some women could look in a severely plain dress.
- Terry Pratchett, Going Postal
I'm sure that idioms such as this go unobserved all the time; then someone brings them up someplace like this and et viola.
and et viola
Can't fool me. She's your aunt.
In reply to:
...with the growing realization of how well some women could look in a severely plain dress.
Not anything to do with 'well,' but an opening passage from Middlemarch that I was reminded of:
"Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress."
not lessons in looking
Are you sure? You best look well ifn you're gonna be sure the haircut was what you wanted before you pay for it.
Anna, couldn't agree more!
But in (British) English it is perfectly acceptable and normal (at least for hypochondriacs) to feel poorly
BTW I wouldn't use but would understand the original 'look well'.
I believe it's just a case of usage that's fallen out of favor. - not among more senior citizens: If "good looking" is a thing of the past, you can at least do something to look well
.
Thank you!
My high school teacher physically illustrated what it meant to "feel badly." And of course, my boss and the COO of our company (who has his masters in English from Harvard!) continue to "feel badly" about things nearly every day.
I've felt so silly, sticking to my grounds of "feel bad" -- and now I see I'm not alone.
insel: In one among them, "Mrs. Klein looks *well* in that dress," he suggests "well" functions as an adjective. I would have thought its function was adverbial. Am I daft, or is he mistaken?
Ted: Ugh! I cannot imagine my using that construction in the context presented. Ugh!
But we aren't given any context. Why shouldn't 'well' mean 'in good health' in this contextless sentence? If Mrs. Klein has AIDS but looks more healthy because of the effect of the dress on her complexion or whatever, wouldn't the sentence be an appropriate thing to say?
Bingley
Welcome, michellelisa!
Indeed, it's sad that your COO has a master's in English and still feels he has to overcorrect. Kudos to your English teacher.
And if Mrs. Klein were fair featured and comely, would it be OK to compliment her on her well looks?