Good/Well & Few/Less

Commonly Confused Words Week #5

By SARAH HAZEN

Well and good are words that describe the quality of an action.

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​Well vs. Good

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Things you need to remember:

Good modifies a noun (person, place or thing)

Example:

​You did a good job.

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In this sentences good describes job,​ which is a noun, so good is an adjective.

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Things you need to remember:

Well modifies an action

Example:

​You did the job well

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In this sentences well describes how the job was performed. Did how? Did well.

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Things you need to remember:

Rules of good vs. well​

​Rule 1 - When referring to health, always use well.

Example: I do not feel well today.​

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​Rule 2 - When describing someone's emotional state, use good.

Example​: He doesn't feel good about having cheated.

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Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

Peter is ________ at playing chess.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

Many of South Africa’s tribal people are ______ at painting.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

Molly teaches English _____________ to the students.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

People are saying that the new movie is _____.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

I don’t play basketball ____, but I like it anyway.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

Kelly was was excited about her ______ test scores.

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

The building collapsed because it wasn’t built ______

• good

• well

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentences below using “good” or “well”

Trail running shoes help me run ______ on rocky ground.

• good

• well

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Less vs. Fewer

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​While these words are both opposites of "more," they are not interchangeable

Things you need to remember:

Less

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• ​means "not as much."

• Generally, it refers to nouns that are NOT COUNTABLE

Things you need to remember:

Fewer

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• ​means "not as many."

• Generally, it refers to COUNTABLE NOUNS

Things you need to remember:

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• ​Despite the rule, "less" is more frequently used that "fewer."

• Some exceptions are time, money, and weight.

Rules​

Things you need to remember:

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Rules​

• ​Money "Rebecca has less than twenty dollars left in her checking account."

• Weight "Baby pandas weigh less than 200 grams at birth."

• Time While it is not incorrect to use "fewer," we still often use "less" for countable parts of time.

Multiple Choice

 

Jerry wants to spend _____ time at school and more time at home.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

 

I wish there had been _____ pages to read in Gulliver's Travels.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

 

 

I prefer to use ____ salt on my French fries than my sister does.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

 

 

There is ______ money in my pocket

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

 

 

I have _____ free time now than yesterday.

• less

• fewer

Multiple Choice

 

 

We have ______ students this year than last.

• less

• fewer