"well done" vs. "well made"

[tuan]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #34 "Responses (7)", question 4

Jill: 'She came top in the exam grades this summer.'
Frank: '.........'

(a) Well made.
(b) Well held.
(c) Well got.
(d) Well done.

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #34 "Responses (7)", answer 4

Jill: 'She came top in the exam grades this summer.'
Frank: 'Well done.'

Correct answer: (d) Well done.
_________________________

well made

tuan

[Alan]

Hi tuan,

Well done refers often to an action as in this sentence because it refers to how well she did in the exams. Well made often refers to a construction because it refers to how well something has been constructed or put together. A piece of furniture can be described for example as well made meaning that the person who made it was probably an expert or craftsman.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Mitra584]

Dear Alan,
Can we use 'Good job’ instead of 'Well done'?
In advanced thanks a lot.
Mitra
_________________
Peace&Love

[Alan]

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Hi Mitra,

I think you would have to say more than this - You have done a good job. The other point is that the expression 'it's a good job' can have a different sense. Look at this sentence: It's a good job I had the brakes replaced on my car because they weren't working properly. This means 'I did the right thing.'

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Mitra584]

Hi Alan,
I apologize about my talkativeness. I am confused, Good job=task well done, fine work and well done=performed finely. What is the difference between those? and also why I cannot use it in this test instead of well done?
_________________
Peace&Love

[Alan]

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Hi Mitra,

If you simply say 'Good job' on its own, it's not absolutely clear what you mean. That's why I said that you need to expand this expression and say: You have done a good job or You have done your task well. You use 'Well done' as a form of congratulation but the other comments need to be inside a larger sentence. Is that any clearer?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Beeesneees]

You could use 'Good job' on its own as an expression, Mitra... but only where it is absolutely clear what you are using it about because of an immediately preceding sentence or action. In this example, there are several grades being spoken about. If you used it in this example, your meaning would be understood, but 'Well done' is a far better expression to use.

Even where 'Good job!' is used as an expression on its own, it's really just 'lazy' English and the rest of the sentence has to be inferred:

Frank was painting his house. Jim walked past as he was painting and pointed at the house. "Good job!" he called. (What he is really saying is "You're doing a good job there.")
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[Mitra584]

Dear Alan,
Thank you very much for all your attemtion.
_________________
Peace&Love

[Mitra584]

Dear beeesneees,
Thank you very much for all the effort you put in this.
_________________
Peace&Love