[Vocabulary] English is Fine/Good

[patran]

Hi Teachers

When a British says somebody's spoken English is "Fine", how far is it is from "Good" or "Very Good" or "Native"? I would like to seek some generic comments.

Regards

Anthony the learner

 

[5jj]

When a British person says somebody's spoken English is "Fine", how far is it is from "Good" or "Very Good" or "Native"?

'Fine' is not a point on a fixed scale. It means something like ' acceptable' or 'good enough'.

 

[Raymott]

Hi Teachers

When a British says somebody's spoken English is "Fine", how far is it is from "Good" or "Very Good" or "Native"? I would like to seek some generic comments.

Regards

Anthony the learner

By the way, it's not used in a question, as in "Is my English fine? Is this grammar fine?"
Well, it is often used this way by learners here. I mean native speakers don't use it this way.

A: "How do I look?"
B: "You look fine" - OK

A: "Do I look fine?" - Not OK

 

[5jj]

By the way, it's not used in a question, as in "Is my English fine? Is this grammar fine?"

It's also not used in negative utterances.

A: What do you think about my last paragraph?
B. It's fine. OK

B: It isn't fine. Not OK

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

It's also not used in negative utterances.

A: What do you think about my last paragraph?
B. It's fine. OK

B: It isn't fine. Not OK

And what about this exchange:

A: What do you think about my last paragraph?
B: It's fine.
C: No it isn't.

C is not repeating "fine", but he is saying that the last paragraph isn't fine. Is C's response natural?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it is.

Rover