Well and good: when to use bien and bon

We use bon (good) with a noun, and it has to agree in gender and number:

I know a good doctor.

These fruits are good!

Note: When using bon with the verb sentir (to smell), it does not have to agree:

These flowers smell good.

Bien (well) usually refers to a verb, and never changes form:

I'm doing well.

I like Paris (literally, “I like Paris well”).

Magda plays guitar well.

Note: We can use bien to mean “good” with a noun if it involves a moral or intellectual judgment:

These books are very good.

If we want to say “it's good” or “that's good”, we use c'est bon to describe something pleasant and c'est bien to describe something successful or positive:

-Do you like chicken and fries? -Yes, it's good.

-I'm going to Ouarzazate! -That's good!


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