fine
- finely
Fine is usually an adjective, but in conversation you can also use it as an adverb. Fine has three main meanings.
used to mean ‘very good’
You can use it to say that something is very good or impressive.
He gave a fine performance.
From the top there is a fine view.
When you use fine like this, you can use words such as very or extremely in front of it.
He's intelligent and he'd do a very fine job.
This is an unusually fine piece of work.
You can't use fine as an adverb with this meaning, but you can use the adverb finely in front of an -ed participle.
This is a finely crafted story.
used to mean ‘satisfactory’
You can also use fine to say that something is satisfactory or acceptable.
‘Do you want more milk?’ – ‘No, this is fine.’
If you say that you are fine, you mean that your health is satisfactory.
‘How are you?’ – ‘Fine, thanks.’
When you use fine to mean ‘satisfactory’, don't use ‘very’ in front of it. However, you can use just.
Everything is just fine.
‘Is she settling down in England?’ – ‘Oh, she’s just fine.'
In conversation, you can use fine as an adverb to mean ‘satisfactorily’ or ‘well’.
We got on fine.
I was doing fine.
Be careful
Don't use ‘finely’ in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, ‘We got on finely’.
Don't use ‘finely’ in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, ‘We got on finely’.
used to mean ‘small’ or ‘narrow’
You can also use fine to say that something is very narrow, or consists of very small or narrow parts.
She has long, fine hair.
When you use fine like this, you can use words such as very in front of it.
These pins are very fine and won't split the wood.
You can use finely as an adverb with this meaning.
Put the mixture in the bowl and add a cup of finely chopped onions.