<p>McGraw-Hill's "Conquering SAT Writing" says that the word "well" can be used as both an adjective and an adverb. </p>
<p>It states "In the clause 'I haven't been well lately,' the word 'well' is an adjective meaning 'healthy' modifying the pronoun 'I.' But in the clause 'she sings very well,' it is an adverb modifying the verb 'sings.'" </p>
<p>Is the book correct in this because I've always been taught to only use "well" as an adverb and not an adjective. Keep in mind that this is a book that specializes in SAT grammar, lol.</p>
<p>In “well mannered,” “well” described an adjective and is being used as an adverb. So I don’t know how that helps me.</p>
<p>If you look it up in any dictionary, it will say it can be used as an adjective or an adverb. Well off, for example.</p>
<p>Someone that is “well” is “healthy.” In this case, “well” is an adjective because it describes a noun (“someone”). Just look the word up in the dictionary. People need to use the dictionary more.</p>
<p>To reinforce crazybandit’s statement (somewhat needlessly): “well” can be an adjective.</p>
<p>I am well. That is, I am healthy. “Well” is an adjective in this case.
I swim well. That is, I can challenge Michael Phelps (and lose, but that’s beside the point). “Well” is an adverb in this case, modifying the verb “swim.”</p>
<p>Your reference book and the dictionary are both correct. The person who taught you to use “well” only as an adverb does not want you to write/say, “I swim good.” This sentence (with “good”) is incorrect, because an adverb is needed.</p>
<p>One tricky instance: “I feel good” is correct, when the speaker is healthy. “Feel” functions as a linking verb here. To say “I feel well” would mean that the speaker has an acute sense of touch.</p>
<p>So “I feel well” can both mean that I feel healthy and that I have a good sense of touch?</p>
<p>No, in the expression “I feel well,” well is being used only as an adverb, and it means that the speaker has a good sense of touch. If the speaker is healthy, then the correct usage is “I feel good.” As noted, this is relatively tricky, but the SAT writers observe this distinction.</p>