Good and bad

Posted by TheFallen on March 19, 2003

In Reply to: Good and bad posted by R. Berg on March 19, 2003

: : What is/are the correct preposition(s) after good and bad? Good at/bad in...? Others correct too? Thanks.

: All correct:
: Andy is good at catching fly balls.
: Charlie is bad at keeping secrets.
: Green vegetables are good for you.
: Aspirin is good for a headache.
: Political instability is bad for the stock market.
: Fresh herbs are good in potato soup.

Also, he's been very good to me.

There's no one correct preposition, as you'll have noted, and it all comes down to meaning.

Good at = skilled at or proficient in.
Good for = has a beneficial effect upon.
Good in = enjoyable, with the location or situation being subsequently defined (herbs are good in soup, Olivier was good in "Hamlet")
Good to = kindly or well-behaved towards.

• good and bad EE 03/19/03
  • Good and bad R. Berg 03/19/03
    • good and bad EE 03/19/03