A2 Adjectives & Adverbs 13 min read Easy

French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux)

Replace 'plus bon' with 'meilleur' for things and 'plus bien' with 'mieux' for actions.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'meilleur' for nouns (better things) and 'mieux' for verbs (doing things better).

  • Meilleur modifies nouns: Ce gâteau est meilleur (This cake is better).
  • Mieux modifies verbs: Je chante mieux (I sing better).
  • Meilleur agrees in gender/number: {le|m} meilleur, {la|f} meilleure.
Meilleur + Noun 🍰 | Mieux + Verb 🏃

Overview

French, like many Romance languages, retains certain irregularities from its Latin roots, particularly in highly frequent words. This is notably evident in the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective bon (good) and the adverb bien (well). Unlike most adjectives and adverbs that form their comparatives by adding plus (more) – for example, grand becomes plus grand (taller) – bon and bien undergo a complete lexical change.

You will not encounter plus bon or plus bien in grammatically correct French; these forms are considered non-standard and incorrect. Instead, you must use meilleur and mieux, respectively. Mastering these irregular forms is crucial for conveying natural and precise meaning in French, as they are used to express concepts like "better" and "best" daily, impacting your ability to discuss preferences, performance, and well-being with native fluency.

How This Grammar Works

The fundamental distinction in understanding French irregular comparatives lies in identifying whether you are modifying a noun or a verb (or another adverb/adjective). This dictates the choice between meilleur and mieux. This grammatical separation, which English often merges into a single word like "better," is a key feature of French.
Think of it as classifying the nature of the improvement: is the quality of a thing improved, or is the manner of an action improved?
1. Meilleur (Adjective): Describing Nouns
When you are comparing the quality of a noun (a person, place, thing, or abstract concept), you use meilleur. Since meilleur is an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It effectively replaces bon in its comparative and superlative forms.
Its Latin ancestor, melior, also served as the irregular comparative of bonus (good).
  • Example: Ce film est meilleur que l'autre. (This film is better than the other one.) – film is masculine singular.
  • Example: Elle a eu de meilleures notes cette année. (She got better grades this year.) – notes is feminine plural.
2. Mieux (Adverb): Describing Verbs, Adjectives, or Other Adverbs
When you are comparing the manner in which an action is performed, or modifying an adjective or another adverb, you use mieux. As an adverb, mieux is invariable; it never changes its form based on gender or number. It functions as the comparative and superlative of bien.
Its Latin ancestor, melius, was the irregular comparative adverb of bene (well).
  • Example: Tu chantes mieux maintenant. (You sing better now.) – chantes is a verb.
  • Example: Il se sent mieux après son repos. (He feels better after his rest.) – sent is a verb.
This crucial distinction ensures clarity. If you are assessing the inherent quality of an object, you are using meilleur. If you are evaluating the efficiency, skill, or degree of an action, you are using mieux.
Understanding this core difference is the most critical step toward correctly applying these irregular forms.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the formation involves not only knowing meilleur and mieux but also understanding their agreement (or lack thereof) and how to construct both comparative and superlative phrases.
2
1. Comparative Forms (Better / Worse / Smaller)
3
| Original Word | Category | Comparative Form | English Translation | Usage Notes |
4
| :------------ | :--------- | :---------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
5
| bon | Adjective | meilleur(e)(s) | better | Agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. |
6
| bien | Adverb | mieux | better | Invariable. |
7
| mauvais | Adjective | pire / plus mauvais(e)(s) | worse | Pire is more common for abstract or severe badness; plus mauvais for physical or taste badness. Agrees. |
8
| petit | Adjective | moindre / plus petit(e)(s) | lesser / smaller | Moindre for importance/quantity; plus petit for physical size. Moindre is less common in everyday speech. |
9
Example (meilleur): Cette solution est meilleure que celle que nous avions. (This solution is better than the one we had.)
10
Example (mieux): Je comprends mieux ce concept après ton explication. (I understand this concept better after your explanation.)
11
Example (pire): La situation est pire que nous ne l'avions imaginé. (The situation is worse than we had imagined it.)
12
To explicitly compare two elements, you will typically use que (than) after the comparative form:
13
Mon ordinateur est meilleur que le tien. (My computer is better than yours.)
14
Elle parle français mieux que moi. (She speaks French better than me.)
15
2. Superlative Forms (The Best / The Worst / The Least)
16
To form the superlative (expressing the highest or lowest degree), you precede the comparative form with the appropriate definite article (le, la, les).
17
| Original Word | Category | Superlative Form | English Translation | Usage Notes |
18
| :------------ | :--------- | :--------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
19
| bon | Adjective | le/la/les meilleur(e)(s) | the best | The article and the adjective agree with the noun it modifies. |
20
| bien | Adverb | le mieux | the best | The article le is invariable, and mieux is also invariable. |
21
| mauvais | Adjective | le/la/les pire(s) / le/la/les plus mauvais(e)(s) | the worst | Similar distinction as comparative: pire for abstract, plus mauvais for physical. Both agree. |
22
| petit | Adjective | le/la/les moindre(s) / le/la/les plus petit(e)(s) | the least / the smallest | Similar distinction as comparative: moindre for importance, plus petit for size. Both agree. |
23
Example (la meilleure): C'est la meilleure boulangerie de la ville. (It's the best bakery in the city.)
24
Example (le mieux): De tous les candidats, c'est lui qui travaille le mieux. (Of all the candidates, he's the one who works the best.)
25
Example (les pires): Ce sont les pires résultats que j'aie jamais vus. (These are the worst results I've ever seen.)
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Note that le mieux as a superlative adverb usually follows the verb, or in compound tenses, it is placed between the auxiliary and the past participle. For example: Il a le mieux réussi son examen. (He succeeded best in his exam.) This structure, le plus + adverb, is also common for regular adverbs, e.g., le plus rapidement (the fastest).

When To Use It

These irregular comparatives and superlatives are integral to expressing nuanced opinions, making evaluations, and describing improvements in various contexts. Their usage is dictated by the grammatical nature of the word being modified.
Using Meilleur(e)(s) (Adjective)
Use meilleur when you are commenting on the inherent quality, value, or suitability of a noun. This adjective directly modifies the noun, meaning it must agree in gender and number. This covers a vast array of situations:
  • Quality of Objects/Experiences: When evaluating food, products, services, books, movies, or any tangible/intangible item.
  • Ce restaurant a les meilleurs plats. (This restaurant has the best dishes.)
  • J'ai trouvé une meilleure méthode pour apprendre. (I found a better method for learning.)
  • People's Attributes/Roles: Describing someone's character, skill as a noun, or their role.
  • C'est un meilleur ami, toujours là pour moi. (He's a better friend, always there for me.)
  • Elle est la meilleure avocate que je connaisse. (She is the best lawyer I know.)
  • Abstract Concepts: When referring to abstract nouns like ideas, solutions, or opportunities.
  • Nous avons besoin d'une meilleure stratégie. (We need a better strategy.)
  • C'est la meilleure décision que j'aie jamais prise. (It's the best decision I've ever made.)
Using Mieux (Adverb)
Use mieux when you are describing how an action is performed, or the degree of an improvement related to a verb or an adverb. Being an adverb, mieux is invariable.
  • Performance/Skill: When discussing how well someone does something.
  • Il joue au tennis mieux qu'avant. (He plays tennis better than before.)
  • Pourriez-vous expliquer cela mieux, s'il vous plaît ? (Could you explain that better, please?)
  • Health/Well-being: A very common usage is to describe an improvement in one's physical or mental state.
  • Après le traitement, elle se sent mieux. (After the treatment, she feels better.)
  • Ça va mieux ? (Are you doing better? / Is it going better?)
  • Conditions/Circumstances: When describing how something functions or proceeds.
  • Le nouveau système fonctionne mieux. (The new system works better.)
  • Il vaut mieux partir tôt. (It's better to leave early.) – Here, il vaut mieux is an impersonal expression meaning "it is better to."
Cultural Insight: The distinct use of meilleur and mieux reflects a logical precision in French, differentiating between the intrinsic quality of a subject and the quality of an action. This linguistic habit encourages speakers to be clear about what exactly is superior. For instance, rather than just saying "It's better," a French speaker will naturally consider whether it's a better thing (C'est meilleur) or if something is done better (C'est mieux).

Common Mistakes

French learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when using meilleur and mieux. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying causes can significantly accelerate your mastery of this grammar point.
  • The "plus bon" Trap: The most pervasive error is attempting to apply the regular comparative rule (plus + adjective) to bon. For example, saying plus bon instead of meilleur. This is grammatically incorrect in modern French. The reason for this mistake is often the desire for consistency, as plus grand, plus rapide, etc., are standard. However, bon is an exception due to its irregular Latin derivation, so you must consciously override this impulse. Always use meilleur (or its inflected forms) for the comparative of bon.
  • Confusing Meilleur and Mieux: This is the second most common source of errors, stemming from the single English equivalent "better." The key is to perform a quick mental check:
  • Is it describing a noun? (e.g., a better car, a better idea) → Use meilleur and ensure agreement.
  • Incorrect: Ce vin est mieux.
  • Correct: Ce vin est meilleur. (This wine is better.)
  • Is it describing a verb? (e.g., to run better, to feel better) → Use mieux (invariable).
  • Incorrect: Il court meilleur.
  • Correct: Il court mieux. (He runs better.)
  • Lack of Agreement for Meilleur: Since meilleur is an adjective, it must agree with the noun it modifies. Forgetting gender or number agreement is a frequent oversight.
  • Incorrect: J'ai acheté un meilleur voiture. (voiture is feminine).
  • Correct: J'ai acheté une meilleure voiture. (I bought a better car.)
  • Incorrect: Ce sont des meilleur livres. (livres is plural).
  • Correct: Ce sont des meilleurs livres. (These are better books.)
  • Incorrect Superlative Article Agreement: When forming the superlative with meilleur, both the definite article (le, la, les) and the adjective meilleur must agree with the noun.
  • Incorrect: C'est le meilleure option. (option is feminine).
  • Correct: C'est la meilleure option. (It's the best option.)
  • Misuse of Pire vs. Plus mauvais: While plus mauvais is technically acceptable, pire generally carries a stronger, more abstract sense of "worse" or "worst," particularly in qualitative judgments, problems, or situations. Plus mauvais tends to refer more to a physical bad quality, like taste.
  • Ce plat est plus mauvais que l'autre. (This dish is worse/more bad than the other one – implying taste).
  • Le résultat de l'examen est le pire. (The exam result is the worst – implying severity of outcome).
  • Misuse of Moindre vs. Plus petit: Moindre primarily refers to a lesser degree of importance, quantity, or value, rather than physical size. For physical dimensions, plus petit is the correct choice.
  • C'est le moindre de nos soucis. (It's the least of our worries – importance).
  • Ma valise est plus petite que la tienne. (My suitcase is smaller than yours – physical size).
By systematically checking for the noun/verb distinction, ensuring agreement for adjectives, and understanding the nuances of pire and moindre, you can overcome these common errors and use irregular comparatives with confidence.

Real Conversations

In everyday French, meilleur and mieux are ubiquitous. They appear in casual chats, formal discussions, and all forms of written communication. Understanding their natural context is key to sounding authentic.

- Expressing Preferences (Casual):

- Cette série est la meilleure que j'aie vue récemment. (This series is the best I've seen recently.) – Talking about a TV show (noun).

- Je préfère le café, c'est meilleur pour me réveiller. (I prefer coffee, it's better for waking me up.) – meilleur here implicitly refers to the coffee as a chose (thing). C'est meilleur is very common.

- Discussing Health and Well-being:

- Comment vas-tu ? – Ça va mieux, merci. (How are you? – I'm doing better, thanks.) – Referring to the state of aller (to go/be) (verb).

- Le médecin m'a dit de manger mieux. (The doctor told me to eat better.) – Modifying the verb manger (to eat).

- Giving Feedback or Advice (Professional/Academic):

- Votre proposition est meilleure que la précédente. (Your proposal is better than the previous one.) – Referring to proposition (noun).

- Pourriez-vous reformuler cette phrase pour que ce soit mieux compris ? (Could you rephrase this sentence so it's better understood?) – Modifying the passive verbal concept of being understood (action/state).

- On Social Media/Texting:

- OMG, ce gâteau est le meilleur ! #foodporn (OMG, this cake is the best! #foodporn) – Describing gâteau (noun).

- Apprends à coder mieux avec ce tuto ! (Learn to code better with this tutorial!) – Modifying apprends (verb).

- Making Suggestions:

- Il serait mieux de vérifier avant de publier. (It would be better to check before publishing.) – Impersonal expression il serait mieux de.

- Je pense que c'est la meilleure approche. (I think it's the best approach.) – Describing approche (noun).

In contemporary French, the concise nature of meilleur and mieux makes them efficient tools for expressing opinions and evaluations. Notice how the context often clarifies whether a noun's quality or a verb's action is being discussed, even without explicit comparison with que. This natural usage reinforces the importance of distinguishing between the adjective and adverb forms.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about French irregular comparatives, addressing points of confusion concisely.
  • Can I ever say plus bon?
No. In standard, grammatically correct French, plus bon is always incorrect. You must use meilleur (or its agreed forms: meilleure, meilleurs, meilleures) for the comparative of bon.
  • Does mieux ever change its form?
No. Mieux is an adverb, and adverbs in French are generally invariable. It always remains mieux, regardless of the gender or number of the subject performing the action.
  • How do I form the superlative of bon for a feminine plural noun?
You use the definite article les and the feminine plural form of meilleur, which is meilleures. For example: les meilleures amies (the best friends).
  • What is the difference between plus petit and moindre?
Plus petit refers to physical size: une maison plus petite (a smaller house). Moindre refers to a lesser degree of importance, quantity, or value, not physical dimension: le moindre problème (the least problem), la moindre quantité (the least quantity). In everyday speech, plus petit is far more common even for abstract concepts like

Meilleur vs. Mieux Comparison

Category Grammar Type Agreement Example
Meilleur
Adjective
Yes (Gender/Number)
Ce livre est meilleur
Mieux
Adverb
No (Invariable)
Il lit mieux

Meanings

These are the irregular comparative forms of 'bon' (good) and 'bien' (well). They express superiority in quality or performance.

1

Quality (Adjective)

Used to compare the quality of nouns.

“C'est la meilleure idée.”

“Ce vin est meilleur.”

2

Performance (Adverb)

Used to compare how well an action is performed.

“Il travaille mieux.”

“Elle danse mieux que moi.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux)
Form Structure Example
Meilleur
Adjective + Noun
C'est la meilleure idée
Mieux
Verb + Mieux
Il chante mieux
Le meilleur
Superlative (Noun)
C'est le meilleur
Le mieux
Superlative (Adverb)
C'est ce que je fais le mieux
Negative
Ne + Verb + Pas + Mieux
Il ne travaille pas mieux
Question
Est-ce que + Subject + Verb + Mieux?
Est-ce qu'il danse mieux?

Formality Spectrum

Formal
C'est le meilleur choix.

C'est le meilleur choix. (Decision making)

Neutral
C'est le meilleur choix.

C'est le meilleur choix. (Decision making)

Informal
C'est le meilleur choix.

C'est le meilleur choix. (Decision making)

Slang
C'est le top.

C'est le top. (Decision making)

The Meilleur vs Mieux Decision Tree

Better

Noun

  • Meilleur Adjective

Verb

  • Mieux Adverb
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Examples by Level

1

Ce livre est meilleur.

This book is better.

2

Je chante mieux.

I sing better.

3

C'est la meilleure pizza.

It's the best pizza.

4

Il travaille mieux.

He works better.

1

Tu parles mieux français.

You speak French better.

2

C'est mon meilleur ami.

He is my best friend.

3

Cette solution est meilleure.

This solution is better.

4

Elle danse mieux que lui.

She dances better than him.

1

J'aime mieux le chocolat.

I prefer chocolate.

2

C'est la meilleure façon de faire.

It's the best way to do it.

3

Il joue mieux quand il est calme.

He plays better when he is calm.

4

Ces résultats sont meilleurs.

These results are better.

1

Il vaut mieux partir maintenant.

It is better to leave now.

2

C'est le meilleur choix possible.

It's the best possible choice.

3

Elle gère mieux le stress.

She handles stress better.

4

Ce sont les meilleures options.

These are the best options.

1

Rien ne vaut mieux qu'un bon café.

Nothing is better than a good coffee.

2

Il a fait de son mieux.

He did his best.

3

C'est la meilleure des solutions.

It is the best of the solutions.

4

Il écrit mieux qu'il ne parle.

He writes better than he speaks.

1

Tant mieux pour lui.

So much the better for him.

2

Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.

The best is the enemy of the good.

3

C'est la meilleure chose à faire.

It is the best thing to do.

4

Il s'exprime mieux en public.

He expresses himself better in public.

Easily Confused

French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux) vs Bon vs Bien

Bon is an adjective, Bien is an adverb.

French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux) vs Meilleur vs Plus bon

Learners try to apply regular comparative rules.

French Irregular Comparatives: Better & Best (Meilleur vs. Mieux) vs Mieux vs Plus bien

Learners try to apply regular comparative rules.

Common Mistakes

✗

C'est plus bon.

✓

C'est meilleur.

Bon is irregular.
✗

Il chante plus bien.

✓

Il chante mieux.

Bien is irregular.
✗

C'est le mieux livre.

✓

C'est le meilleur livre.

Meilleur is the adjective.
✗

Elle est meilleure.

✓

Elle est meilleure.

Correct, but ensure agreement.
✗

Ils sont mieux.

✓

Ils sont meilleurs.

Describing people (nouns).
✗

Je fais mieux mon travail.

✓

Je fais mieux mon travail.

Correct.
✗

C'est la mieux idée.

✓

C'est la meilleure idée.

Idea is feminine.
✗

Il travaille le meilleur.

✓

Il travaille le mieux.

Adverbial superlative.
✗

C'est mieux que rien.

✓

C'est mieux que rien.

Correct.
✗

Elle est mieux que moi.

✓

Elle est meilleure que moi.

Comparing people.
✗

Il a fait le meilleur de lui.

✓

Il a fait de son mieux.

Idiomatic expression.
✗

C'est la meilleure chose qu'il soit.

✓

C'est la meilleure chose qui soit.

Subjunctive usage.
✗

Il vaut mieux que tu viens.

✓

Il vaut mieux que tu viennes.

Subjunctive after 'il vaut mieux que'.
✗

C'est le mieux des mondes.

✓

C'est le meilleur des mondes.

Adjective usage.

Sentence Patterns

C'est la ___ idée.

Je travaille ___ que lui.

Ce sont les ___ résultats.

Il vaut ___ partir.

Real World Usage

Ordering food very common

C'est meilleur que le plat précédent.

Job interview common

Je travaille mieux en équipe.

Texting very common

C'est mieux comme ça !

Social media common

Le meilleur moment de ma journée.

Travel common

Quel est le meilleur itinéraire ?

Feedback common

Tu peux faire mieux.

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💡

The Noun Test

If you can put 'the' in front of the word, it's likely a noun. Use 'meilleur'.
⚠️

No 'Plus Bon'

Never combine 'plus' with 'bon'. It's the #1 mistake.
🎯

Agreement Check

Always check if your noun is feminine or plural before writing 'meilleur'.
💬

Complimenting

Use 'C'est meilleur' to compliment a chef.

Smart Tips

Use 'meilleur' and check gender.

C'est plus bon. → C'est meilleur.

Use 'mieux' and keep it simple.

Il chante plus bien. → Il chante mieux.

Use 'meilleur'.

Il est mieux que moi. → Il est meilleur que moi.

Use 'j'aime mieux'.

Je préfère mieux. → J'aime mieux.

Pronunciation

meh-yur

Meilleur

Pronounced /mɛ.jœʁ/.

myuh

Mieux

Pronounced /mjø/.

Rising for questions

C'est meilleur ? ↑

Inquiry

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Meilleur is for things (nouns), Mieux is for moves (verbs).

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Meilleur' cake (noun) and a 'Mieux' runner (verb) moving faster.

Rhyme

Meilleur for the noun, Mieux for the action, learn this rule and you'll get satisfaction.

Story

Pierre wanted to bake a better cake. He said, 'Ce gâteau est meilleur.' Then he practiced his cooking. He said, 'Maintenant, je cuisine mieux.'

Word Web

MeilleurMeilleureMeilleursMeilleuresMieuxBonBien

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using both 'meilleur' and 'mieux'.

Cultural Notes

French people are very particular about food quality. 'C'est meilleur' is a high compliment.

Similar usage, but 'mieux' is often used in casual speech for 'prefer'.

Standard usage, often used in professional contexts.

Derived from Latin 'melior' (better) and 'melius' (better).

Conversation Starters

“

Quel est le meilleur film que tu as vu ?

“

Est-ce que tu cuisines mieux que ton ami ?

“

Quelle est la meilleure ville pour voyager ?

“

Comment peut-on travailler mieux ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your best friend.
How have you improved your French?
Compare two restaurants.
What is the best way to spend a weekend?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ce gâteau est ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meilleur
Describing a noun.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Il travaille ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mieux
Describing an action.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est plus bon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est meilleur
Bon is irregular.
Transform to comparative. Sentence Transformation

Il chante bien. (He sings better)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il chante mieux
Mieux is the comparative of bien.
Is this true? True False Rule

Mieux changes with gender.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Mieux is invariable.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Comment est ce film ? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est meilleur
Describing a film (noun).
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

meilleur / est / ce / livre

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce livre est meilleur
Correct word order.
Match the form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Meilleur/Mieux
Noun uses meilleur, verb uses mieux.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ce gâteau est ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meilleur
Describing a noun.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Il travaille ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mieux
Describing an action.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est plus bon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est meilleur
Bon is irregular.
Transform to comparative. Sentence Transformation

Il chante bien. (He sings better)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il chante mieux
Mieux is the comparative of bien.
Is this true? True False Rule

Mieux changes with gender.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Mieux is invariable.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Comment est ce film ? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est meilleur
Describing a film (noun).
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

meilleur / est / ce / livre

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce livre est meilleur
Correct word order.
Match the form. Match Pairs

Match: Noun -> ?, Verb -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Meilleur/Mieux
Noun uses meilleur, verb uses mieux.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Je chante ______ que mon frère.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mieux
Fix the mistake Error Correction

Ces chaussures sont plus bonnes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ces chaussures sont meilleures.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

est / meilleure / La / que / pomme / l'orange

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La pomme est meilleure que l'orange.
Translate to French Translation

He works better now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il travaille mieux maintenant.
Which is the superlative? Multiple Choice

This is the best bakery.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est la meilleure boulangerie.
Match the adjective to its irregular comparative Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bon : meilleur
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

C'est le _______ résultat possible.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pire
Select the correct plural form Multiple Choice

Les résultats sont ________.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meilleurs
Translate 'the best' (adv) Translation

Paul runs the best.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Paul court le mieux.
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Elle est plus bonne en maths.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle est meilleure en maths.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, it's incorrect. Use 'meilleur'.

No, it is always 'mieux'.

If it's a person, place, or thing, it's a noun.

Yes, it modifies nouns.

It means 'the best'.

Yes, 'j'aime mieux' means 'I prefer'.

Yes, 'pire' (worse).

Yes, it is standard.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

mejor

French splits them into meilleur and mieux.

German moderate

besser

French requires gender agreement for the adjective.

Japanese low

yori yoi

French uses irregular forms.

Arabic low

afdal

French uses irregular adjectives/adverbs.

Chinese low

geng hao

French has irregular forms.

English moderate

better

French requires agreement for the adjective.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Comparatives: Better, Faster, More (Plus, Moins, Aussi)
Next
Beautiful, New, and Old: The Irregular Trio (Beau, Nouveau, Vieux)

Learn These First

A2 Builds On

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