GRAMMAR PILLS: GOOD OR WELL?

By Georgina Jacobs

What's the difference between GOOD and WELL?

💡 Quick answer ⇒ GOOD = ADJECTIVE / WELL = ADVERB

GOOD is an ADJECTIVE ⇒ (bueno/a) i.e. it describes a noun or pronoun.
Ejemplo: That is (a good book) / That book is good.
                                       noun           noun

WELL is an ADVERB ⇒ (bien) i.e. it describes a verb.
Ejemplo: Mary speaks English well. / I did well in the exam.
                         verb                          verb

🔺 WARNING: WELL may also be an ADJECTIVE, BUT only when it means

1) In good health; free or recovered from illness.

→ ‘I don't feel very well’

→ ‘it would be some time before Sarah was completely well’

→ ‘It has also correctly labelled as disease free most, but not all, of the well people.’

1.1) In a satisfactory state or position.

→ ‘I do hope all is well with you and your family’

2) Sensible; advisable.

→ ‘it would be well to know just what this suggestion entails’

→ ‘Only--if we decide to buy, it would be well to be moved in and settled before winter.’ (From Oxford Dictionaries)

❓ So, which one is correct? ⇒ I'm good or I'm well?

💡 You may also want to watch this video!

🔗 Read more and practice:

• GRAMMAR MONSTER ⇒ GOOD or WELL?
• GOOD or WELL QUIZ - 1
• GOOD or WELL QUIZ - 2
• GOOD or WELL QUIZ - 3

Georgina Jacobs

GRAMMAR PILLS: ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

By Georgina Jacobs

First things first… 

What’s an adjective?

An adjective is a word or a structure that describes, qualifies or modifies a noun (= NOMBRE / SUSTANTIVO) or pronoun. 

¿Por qué es necesario estudiar el orden de los adjetivos en inglés? 

Porque los adjetivos se colocan normalmente en un orden en particular según el tipo de adjetivo que sea (por ejemplo: opinión: interesting/beautiful, forma: square/round, material: wooden/gold, etc.). 

Básicamente, los adjetivos se colocan en 2 posiciones: 

1) ATTRIBUTIVE ⇒ BEFORE THE NOUN (as an attribute):
→ [That blue car] is mine.
    adjective + noun

2) PREDICATIVE ⇒ AFTER THE VERB (in the predicate):
→ My car [is blue].
           verb + adjective

💡Tip: La mayoría de los adjetivos pueden usarse en ambas posiciones, pero algunos pueden usarse solo en 1 de las 2 (attributive or predicative):

✅ It was our main problem. [‘main’ ⇒ attributive = before the noun]

✅ The children were alone at home. [‘alone’ ⇒ predicative = after the verb]

These sentences, on the other hand, are not correct:

❌ Our problem was main. [‘main’ cannot be used in the predicative position]
❌ Some alone children [‘alone’ cannot be used in the attributive position]

🔗 Click here for more examples

Además, hay una 3ra posición: 

3) POSTPOSITIVE ⇒ AFTER THE NOUN:
→ All candidates present on the test day...
              noun + adjective

🔗 Click here for more examples + an exercise

ORDER OF ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES

Cuando colocamos más de un adjetivo en attributive position, debemos seguir un orden: 1ro van los adjetivos que expresan opinión (lo que pensamos de algo, nuestra percepción subjetiva, como beautiful, interesting or cute) y luego, los que expresan un hecho (fact), es decir que son objetivos, como el tamaño, la forma o el color.

Según Cambridge English Grammar Today, el orden más común en el que colocamos attributive adjectives es el siguiente (esto podría modificarse en frases enfáticas):

Source: Cambridge English Grammar Today

Source: Cambridge English Grammar Today

💡 ALSO READ 1: Adjective Order (Englishclub) ⇒ Check out the Table! ⇒ Then, take the quiz ⇒ Adjective Order Quiz

💡 ALSO READ 2: ADJECTIVE ORDER - TEST ENGLISH (Explanation + 3 exercises)

🎬 VIDEOS:

ORDER OF ADJECTIVES (It only takes 2:17 minutes!)

Never Break This Grammar Rule - Adjective Order (3:34 minutes)

💡 Further Practice:

• Adjective order in English 1
• Adjective order in English 2
• Adjective order in English 3
• Adjective order in English 4
• Adjective order

Georgina Jacobs

GRAMMAR PILLS: MID-POSITION ADVERBS

By Georgina Jacobs

¿Qué es un mid-position adverb?

Es un adverbio que se coloca en medio en una clause.

💡 ¿Qué es un adverbio?
Es una palabra o frase que describe un verbo (nos dice cómo, dónde, cuándo, por qué, etc. se realiza la acción del verbo). Los adverbios también describen adjetivos y otros adverbios, pero en este post nos concentraremos en los que describen verbos.

Los adverbios se pueden colocar en 3 posiciones:

FRONT POSITION ⇒ Unfortunately, I can't help you.

MID-POSITION ⇒ I always get up at 7 a.m.

END POSITION ⇒ Have you read that report yet?

💡 TIP: Según el tipo de adverbio, puede colocarse en una u otra posición. Algunos pueden colocarse en distintas posiciones para dar énfasis, hacer contraste o evitar ambigüedad.

¿Qué adverbios se colocan en mid-position?

Los adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, usually, often, seldom, rarely, hardly ever, never, etc.) y otros como really, quite, probably, possibly, certainly, also, only, just, already, etc.

¿Cómo se colocan los mid-position adverbs en la clause?

Entre el sujeto y el verbo, y es muy sencillo ⇒ hay solo 3 posibilidades: 

1) BEFORE THE MAIN VERB (ANTES del VERBO principal):

→ SUBJECT + ADVERB + MAIN VERB

→ I always get up at 7 a.m.

2) AFTER THE VERB “TO BE” (DESPUÉS de “TO BE”):

→ SUBJECT + TO BE + ADVERB

→ Peter is always late.

🔺 EMPHASIS ⇒ Cuando el adverbio es enfático, se puede colocar ANTES de “to be”: Why should Peter be early today? He never is early for anything. (La entonación también cambia para marcar el énfasis.)

3) VERB PHRASE: if the verb contains auxiliaries and/or modals, the adverb comes AFTER THE FIRST auxiliary or modal (si el verbo tiene auxiliares o modales, el adverbio se coloca DESPUÉS de la primera palabra):

→ SUBJECT + 1st aux./modal + ADVERB + MAIN VERB

→ You should never have told anyone my secret.

❓ En las preguntas, el adverbio se coloca DESPUÉS del sujeto:

Do you usually work at weekends?

Have you already finished your exam? (surprised)

🔺 IMPORTANTE: En inglés, NO poner el adverbio entre verbo y objeto:

En español podemos decir: Me gusta mucho el chocolate. Mary habla muy bien inglés.

En inglés: ❌ I like a lot chocolate.       [verb + adverb + object] ✅ I like chocolate a lot.       [verb + object] + adverb ❌ Mary speaks very well English.                 [verb + adverb + object] ✅ Mary speaks English very well.                 [verb + object] + adverb

From BBC 6 Minute Grammar - Adverb Position 1

From BBC 6 Minute Grammar - Adverb Position 2

🔗 Recommended links:

• Adverbs and adverb phrases: position de Cambridge English Grammar Today
• Position of adverbs: difference between British and American English

💡 PRACTICE:

• Adverbs of frequency (position) 1
• Adverbs of frequency (position) 2
• Adverbs ofFrequency - Word Order
• Positionof adverbs – Exercise

Georgina Jacobs

ODD SIGNS FROM ENGLAND - Ambiguity problems

Source: Anvari.org

1. IN A LAUNDROMAT: Automatic washing machines. Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.

2. IN A LONDON DEPARTMENT STORE: Bargain Basement Upstairs.

3. IN AN OFFICE: Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken.

4. IN ANOTHER OFFICE: After the tea break staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.

5. ON A CHURCH DOOR: This is the gate of Heaven. Enter ye all by this door. (This door is kept locked because of the draft. Please use side entrance)

6. OUTSIDE A SECOND-HAND SHOP: We exchange anything - bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain?

7. QUICKSAND WARNING: Quicksand. Any person passing this point will be drowned. By order of the District Council.

8. NOTICE IN A DRY CLEANER’S WINDOW: Anyone leaving their garments here for more than 30 days will be disposed of.

9. IN A HEALTH FOOD SHOP WINDOW: Closed due to illness.

10. SPOTTED IN A SAFARI PARK: Elephants Please Stay in Your Car.

11. SEEN DURING A CONFERENCE: For anyone who has children and doesn't know it, there is a day care on the first floor.

12. NOTICE IN A FIELD: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.

13. MESSAGE ON A LEAFLET: If you cannot read, this leaflet will tell you how to get lessons.

14. ON A REPAIR SHOP DOOR: We can repair anything (Please knock hard on the door - the bell doesn't work)

15. SPOTTED IN A TOILET IN A LONDON OFFICE BLOCK: Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.