MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which sentence uses "well" as an adverb correctly?

1. She is well today.

2. He plays well.

3. She looks well.

4. He feels well.

The correct answer is: He plays well.

The use of "well" as an adverb is appropriate in the sentence "He plays well" because it describes the manner in which he plays. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and in this case, "well" modifies the verb "plays," indicating the quality of his playing performance. In contrast, several of the other sentences use "well" in contexts where "good" would be more fitting. For example, "She is well today" may imply that she is in good health, but in common usage, the phrase would typically be stated as "She is good today" to describe her overall state more accurately. Similarly, "She looks well" and "He feels well" would be better expressed as "She looks good" and "He feels good," respectively, as they refer to states of being rather than actions or manner. This distinction in usage emphasizes the importance of choosing the appropriate form of the adjective or adverb based on what is being described.