Bon vs bien? Not sure which one to choose? This short article will help you distinguish these two French words confused by many learners.
Bon (Good/nice)
Bon describes something or someone. As an adjective, it agrees with the noun it qualifies (feminine/plural).
For example:
C'est un bon livre. (It is a good book.)
Elle est une bonne amie. (She is a good friend)
Bon is used with wishes and some common expressions.
For example:
Bon matin. (Good morning in Quebec)
Bonne journée! (Have a nice day!)
Bon voyage! (Have a nice trip!)
Bien (Well)
Bien (adverb) describes actions and answers the question "how".
For example:
On a bien mangé. (We aet well.)
Est-ce que tu cuisines bien? (Are you cooking well?)
Bien is also used with some common questions.
For example:
Ça va bien? / Tu vas bien? (Are you well?)
*Unlike bon, bien is invariable, meaning that it doesn't change.
Let's practice!
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of "bon" or "bien".
1) Ces gâteaux sont ____.
2) Conduis-tu ____ ?
3) Elle est une _____ colocataire (roommate).
4) ____ après-midi!
5) Mon cousin et moi travaillons ____.
Check your answers
1) bons
2) bien
3) bonne
4) bon
5) bien