mieux vs. meillure - French Language2024-03-29T15:51:29Zhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/mieux-vs-meillure?commentId=3179028%3AComment%3A1304&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMerci beacoup pour votre tres…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2009-05-13:3179028:Comment:13212009-05-13T13:49:46.054ZJames Leehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/JamesLee
Merci beacoup pour votre tres vite response. :D
Merci beacoup pour votre tres vite response. :D Hi James,
In principle, meil…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2009-05-13:3179028:Comment:13042009-05-13T03:19:35.278ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
Hi James,<br />
<br />
In principle, meilleur is the comparative/superaltive form of <b>bon</b>, while <b>mieux</b> is the comparative/superlative of <b>bien</b>, the <i>adverb</i>. So <b>mieux</b> generally means "better" in the sense of "in a better way", "more satisfactorily etc". Compare:<br />
<br />
<b>c'est un <u>bon</u> ami</b><br />
<i>he's a good friend</i><br />
<b>c'est mon <u>meilleur</u> ami</b><br />
<i>he's my best friend</i><br />
<b>un <u>bon</u> fromage</b><br />
<i>a good cheese</i><br />
<b>un <u>meilleur</u> fromage</b><br />
<i>a better…</i>
Hi James,<br />
<br />
In principle, meilleur is the comparative/superaltive form of <b>bon</b>, while <b>mieux</b> is the comparative/superlative of <b>bien</b>, the <i>adverb</i>. So <b>mieux</b> generally means "better" in the sense of "in a better way", "more satisfactorily etc". Compare:<br />
<br />
<b>c'est un <u>bon</u> ami</b><br />
<i>he's a good friend</i><br />
<b>c'est mon <u>meilleur</u> ami</b><br />
<i>he's my best friend</i><br />
<b>un <u>bon</u> fromage</b><br />
<i>a good cheese</i><br />
<b>un <u>meilleur</u> fromage</b><br />
<i>a better cheese</i><br />
<b><u>le meilleur</u> fromage (du monde)</b><br />
<i>the best cheese (in the world)</i><br />
<br />
with the use as an adverb, where the literal meaning is "in a better way"/"in the best way" (or something similar):<br />
<br />
<b>il chante <u>bien</u></b><br />
<i>he sings well</i> (="he's a good singer")<br />
<b>il chante <u>mieux</u> que moi</b><br />
<i>he sings better than me</i> (="he's a better singer than me")<br />
<b>c'est lui qui chante <u>le mieux</u></b><br />
<i>he's the one who sings best</i> (="he's the best singer")<br />
<br />
Now in reality, as you've probably come across, there are some cases where <b>bien</b> is effectively used as an adjective, especially when it means things like "OK", "acceptable", "competent", "good-looking", "comfotrable", "in good health":<br />
<br />
<b>C'est <u>bien</u> si...</b><br />
It's OK if...<br />
<b>On <u>est</u> bien là.</b><br />
We're OK/fine/confortable here.<br />
<br />
hence in corresponding cases, <b>mieux</b> also can appear to behave as an adjective:<br />
<br />
<b>C'est mieux si...</b><br />
It's better if...<br />
<b>On est mieux ici (que...)</b><br />
We're better/more comfortable here (than...)<br />
<br />
There are also some uses of mieux that you should regard as "set expressions", such as:<br />
<b><br />
il vaut/vaudrait mieux...</b><br />
it's/it'd be better to..., you'd better...<br />
<b>"mieux vaut tard que jamais"</b><br />
"better late than never"<br />
<b>il est/c'est mieux de...</b> <i>+infinitive</i><br />
it's better to...<br />
<br />
So as you go along reading/listening to French, try to look out for these "set expressions".<br />
<br />
Hope that helps to get you started!<br />
<br />
Neil