Bon Bien: Which to Use in French?

Should you use bon or bien?

That is a simple question for French learners with a complicated answer. My students sometimes mix them and use the wrong word. When learning French, there are some tricky and confusing words as they have similar meanings in English, but in French will be different depending on the part of the speech you are referring to (adjectives, verbs, adverbs)

In this week’s post, I explain simply and clearly the difference between bon, bien. This is a good lesson une bonne leçon!! that will get you well on your way to understanding the difference.

5 situations where you should use bon

“Bon” is an adjective which means good in English. But it can also be used as an adverb. Let’s see with different examples how you should use it in context. Here are several common situations in which you should use bon.

A -To talk about sensual pleasures

In that case bon is an adverb meaning nice, pleasant, good.

Ce plat est très bon, tu devrais goûter

This dish is very good, you should taste it

Cette fleur sent bon, c’est un lys

This flower smells good, it’s a lilly

B - To confirm a meeting, an appointment

In this situation, bon is an adverb used to validate a date

Je propose la prochaine réunion mardi 9, cette date vous convient ?

I offer a meeting Tuesday 9th, is this date fine with you?

Oui, parfait, c’est bon pour moi

Perfect, it’s good for me

C - To express something is enough

Used as an adverb, it is usually used to answer and say to the person you are talking to ( waiters, shop keepers etc) that you have enough of what he offers and don’t want anymore.

Est-ce que vous voulez encore du fromage ?

Non c’est bon pour moi, merci

Would you like some more cheese?

Thank you, that’s enough for me, thank you

D - Bon as an adjective ( related to a noun )

It serves to describe a noun as good as high quality, useful, pleasant.

J’ai une bonne idée

I have a good idea

Il a de bons souvenirs

He has good memories

 E -To express that someone is skilled

Used as an adjective, bon means that a person is good for a skill, topic, school subject, (sports, education etc)

Tim est très bon en maths

Tim is good at maths

Laura est très bonne en traduction

Laura is very good at simultaneous translations

4 situations where you should use bien

Bien is an adverb and is therefore irregular. It’s the equivalent of well in English in most situations. You use it to describe how the action of a verb is. When it comes to adverbs, bien takes the lead. As an adverb of manner it means well:

A - To express how you feel

Bien in this context is used for the greetings. You can use it when someone asks you how she/he feel.

Comment ça va aujourd’hui ?

Ca va bien merci

How are you today?

I am fine thank you

Je me sens bien dans cette nouvelle maison (reflexive verb : se sentir)

I feel good in this new house

B - To express satisfaction

In this context, bien is an adverb used to give your own opinion to something. Most of our students makes mistakes when it comes to express their satisfaction and use bon where they should use bien

Est-ce que vous aimez les cours de français ?

Oui, c’est bien, j’apprends beaucoup

Do you like French lessons?

Yes, it’s good, I learn a lot

Tu as passé un bon week-end ?

Oui c’était bien, j’ai fait un brunch avec des amis

Did you have a good week-end ?

Yes, it was good, I had a brunch with friends

Common mistakes in this context :

Est-ce que vous aimez les cours de français ?

Oui, c’est bon, j’apprends beaucoup

Tu as passé un bon week-end ?

Oui c’était bon, j’ai fait un brunch avec des amis

C- To put the emphasis on certain verbs

The adverb bien in this context could be translated by quite in English, which means that you reinforce the meaning of the verb by adding the adverb bien after it. Following the verb aimer, it can mean that you like something or someone ( friendship not love)

J’aime bien jouer au tennis

I quite like playing tennis  

Il dort bien quand il est en vacances

He sleeps quite well when he is on vacation

J’aime bien Naomi, elle est toujours très positive

I quite like Naomi, she is always very positive

J’aimerais bien que tu regardes ce livre

I really would like you to read this book

 

D – Bien: used with certain verbs & expressions

S’entendre bien avec quelqu’un: to get along with someone

Laura s’entend bien avec James

Laura gets along with James

Bien jouer : to play well ( used for an actor/actress)

Brad Pitt joue bien dans ce film, c’est un de ses meilleurs films

Brad Pitt plays well in this movie, it is one of his best movies

Ce serait bien si + imperfect:  it would be good if

Ce serait bien si tu pouvais lui confirmer la date aujourd’hui

It would be good if you could confirm the date today

My tips to learn French grammar efficiently

Learning French grammar can be tricky and confusing as most of the text books teach rules including the ones that are almost never used in the spoken language. Text books will systematically give all the exceptions to a rule, which can be confusing for a language that counts thousands of them.

 

-Learn useful grammar that is applicable while speaking with natives

This is why I recommend first to list the useful rules, the one that you have a chance to use while speaking or writing  because they correspond to the current standard language. Exclude from the list the other ones ( complex tenses that are only used in literature or turn of phrases that you would only use if you speak to an ambassador etc)

-Repeat, repeat and…. repeat again

Learning a language is partly a matter of repetition and when it comes to grammar you will have to repeat and above all practice the rules with speakers before they come (especially for the complex point become natural in their use)

-Learn progressively

Instead of moving forward too quickly learning the grammar, stay on the same stage for a while, repeat it, absorb it and…practice it. It is useless to learn the double pronouns  if you still have difficulties with using a single one.

-Learn grammar through the exposure to the language

The more you read, hear and simply spend time with French, the easier it will be for you to intuitively understand how to use the language.