Using 'Bon' and 'Bien' in French

If you're learning French, you've probably encountered this challenge: when should you use "bon" and when should you use "bien"? These two words, which often translate to "good" in English, can be confusing even for advanced learners. Don't worry – we'll clarify everything!

1. How to Choose Between Bon and Bien

The most important rule to remember is this: "bon" is generally an adjective that describes a noun, while "bien" is an adverb that describes an action. Think of it this way:

"Bon" answers the question "What is this thing like?"
"Bien" answers the question "How is this action done?"

BON

Describes things, people, ideas

Un bon livre
A good book
Une bonne idée
A good idea
De bons amis
Good friends

BIEN

Describes actions, ways of doing things

Il travaille bien
He works well
Elle parle bien
She speaks well
Tout va bien
Everything is going well

Simple Method to Distinguish Between Bon and Bien

Think about grading something. If you're evaluating:

An assignment: use "bon" (it's a thing)
The way it's done: use "bien" (it's an action)

For example:

"C'est un bon devoir" (it's a good assignment)
You're judging the assignment itself
"Le devoir est bien écrit" (the assignment is well written)
You're judging the way it's written

💡 Practical Tip for English Speakers

Think of "bon" as equivalent to the adjective "good" and "bien" as equivalent to the adverb "well". In English, you say "a good book" (un bon livre) but "she sings well" (elle chante bien). The same logic applies in French!

2. Using Bon: Forms and Contexts

Unlike English "good," which doesn't change form, "bon" changes according to the gender and number of the noun it describes. This is one of the main differences from "bien" and is crucial for using it correctly.

2.1 Forms of Bon

	Singular	Plural
Masculine	bon	bons
Feminine	bonne	bonnes

2.2 Common Usage Contexts

Let's look at situations where "bon" is the natural choice. In each case, we're describing a quality or characteristic of a thing or person.

For Food and Sensations

When talking about taste or sensory experience:

Ce gâteau est bon
This cake is good
Une bonne odeur de café
A nice coffee smell
La soupe sent bon
The soup smells good

For Qualities and Skills

To describe abilities or character:

Un bon médecin
A good doctor
Une bonne étudiante
A good student (female)
De bons conseils
Good advice

For Weather and Atmosphere

To describe conditions or ambiance:

Il fait bon aujourd'hui
The weather is nice today
Une bonne ambiance
A good atmosphere
Un bon moment
A good time

🎯 Important Note for English Speakers

Unlike in English where "good" stays the same, "bon" must agree with the noun it describes. This means changing its form based on gender and number:

Un bon film → Des bons films
A good movie → Good movies
Une bonne idée → Des bonnes idées
A good idea → Good ideas

This flexibility is a key feature of French adjectives and is essential for natural-sounding French.

2.3 Common Expressions with Bon

French has many fixed expressions where "bon" is the only correct choice. These expressions are essential for everyday communication:

Wishes and Encouragement

Bonne chance !
Good luck!
Bon courage !
Keep it up! / Good luck! (for challenging tasks)
Bonne journée !
Have a good day!
Bon appétit !
Enjoy your meal!

In Conversation

Bon, d'accord...
Well, okay... (to concede)
C'est bon !
That's fine! / That's enough!
Bon à savoir
Good to know
De bon cœur
Willingly/Sincerely

3. Using Bien: Rules and Applications

Unlike "bon", "bien" doesn't change form. This makes it simpler in some ways, but you need to understand exactly when to use it.

3.1 Main Functions of Bien

"Bien" primarily acts as an adverb, meaning it modifies actions and states. Here's how it's used in different contexts:

With Verbs

To describe how an action is performed:

Elle chante bien
She sings well
Il travaille bien
He works well
Tu parles bien français
You speak French well

With Adjectives

To intensify a quality (similar to "very" in English):

C'est bien difficile
It's very difficult
Je suis bien content
I'm very happy
Elle est bien gentille
She's very kind

For General State

To express a state or situation:

Tout va bien
Everything's going well
Je suis bien ici
I'm comfortable here
Ça se passe bien
It's going well

3.2 Using Bien to Express Quantity

French has a special use of "bien" to express large quantities - it's a more elegant alternative to "beaucoup de" (a lot of):

Structure	Example	English Translation
Bien du + masculine noun	Bien du courage	A lot of courage
Bien de la + feminine noun	Bien de la patience	A lot of patience
Bien des + plural noun	Bien des efforts	Many efforts

💡 Usage Tip for English Speakers

This construction with "bien" is considered more elegant than using "beaucoup de" and is particularly useful in:

Formal or professional contexts
Written communication, especially letters or emails
When you want to sound more sophisticated in French

Think of it as using "numerous" or "considerable" instead of "a lot of" in English

3.3 Common Expressions with Bien

French uses "bien" in many essential idiomatic expressions that you'll hear frequently:

For Approval

Très bien !
Very good!/Excellent!
Eh bien !
Well! (shows surprise)
C'est bien ça
That's right
Bien sûr !
Of course!

In Conversation

Bien entendu
Of course/Certainly
Aussi bien que
As well as
Si bien que
So that/As a result
Bien fait !
Serves you right!/Well done!

4. Special Situations and Practical Cases

Now that we've covered the basic rules, let's look at situations that often cause confusion and see how to handle them easily.

4.1 After the Verb "Être" (To Be)

This is one of the trickiest situations! The choice between "bon" and "bien" after "être" completely changes the meaning of the sentence:

Être + Bon

Describes the quality of a concrete thing:

Ce gâteau est bon
This cake is good (taste)
Le film était bon
The movie was good (quality)
Cette idée est bonne
This idea is good (concept)

Être + Bien

Expresses a state or feeling:

Je suis bien ici
I'm comfortable here (feeling)
Tout est bien
Everything is fine (state)
Elle est bien dans sa peau
She's comfortable with herself (well-being)

4.2 With Sensation Verbs

Here's a special case that often surprises English speakers. With certain sensation verbs, we use "bon" even though you might expect "bien":

Notable Exception: Sentir Bon (To Smell Good)

✅ Correct:

Les fleurs sentent bon
The flowers smell good
Le pain sent bon
The bread smells good
Ça sent bon ici !
It smells good here!

❌ Incorrect:

Les fleurs sentent bien
Le pain sent bien
Ça sent bien ici

This exception exists because "sentir bon" is a fixed expression that has been preserved in French usage, similar to how we say "smell good" (not "smell well") in English.

4.3 With Infinitive Constructions

Using "bon" or "bien" with an infinitive reveals interesting nuances that don't always have direct English equivalents:

Il est bon de + infinitive

Suggests a benefit or advantage:

Il est bon de se reposer
It's good to rest
Il est bon de manger des fruits
It's good to eat fruits
Il est bon d'être prudent
It's good to be careful

→ Emphasizes the beneficial nature

Il est bien de + infinitive

Expresses moral or social approval:

Il est bien d'aider les autres
It's good/right to help others
Il est bien de respecter les règles
It's proper to follow the rules
Il est bien de dire merci
It's proper to say thank you

→ Emphasizes proper behavior

🔑 Quick Decision Guide

When you're unsure whether to use "bon" or "bien", ask yourself these questions:

Are you describing a physical thing or concept?
→ Use "bon" (like English "good")
Are you describing how an action is done?
→ Use "bien" (like English "well")
Are you expressing a state of being or feeling?
→ Use "bien"
Is it a common expression?
→ Check the established usage

Practice Exercises

A. Basic Identification

Choose whether "bon" or "bien" should be used in these phrases.

B. Context and Nuances

Choose the correct form based on the context of the sentence.

C. Practical Application

Complete these sentences with the correct form of "bon" or "bien".

1. La tarte sent , ma grand-mère cuisine très .

2. C'est une nouvelle, je suis content(e) !

3. Elle a réussi son examen, c'est une étudiante.

D. Special Cases

Choose the best answer according to the context.

E. Idiomatic Expressions

Complete these common expressions with "bon" or "bien".