Jump to content

aimer mieux

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

French

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Comparative of aimer bien[1]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ɛ.me mjø/ ~ /e.me mjø/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Canada):(file)

Verb

[edit]

aimer mieux

  1. (literally) to like better
  2. to prefer
    Synonym: préférer
    Jaime mieux la campagne que la ville.I prefer the country to the town.
    Jaimerais encore mieux ne plus jamais en parler.I'd rather not talk about it ever again.
    Naimeriez-vous pas mieux le voir par vous-même ?Wouldn't you rather see it for yourself?
    Jaime bien mieux savoir que de croire.I prefer knowing to believing.
    Est-ce que tu aimerais mieux que je le fasse ?Would you rather I did it?

Usage notes

[edit]
  • The comparative adverbial element mieux can be rendered superlative (aimer le mieux (to most prefer, i.e., to like best)) or modified by certain intensifying adverbs: [1]
    aimer bien mieux (to much prefer)
    aimer encore mieux (to prefer even more)
    aimer beaucoup mieux (to much prefer)
    etc.
  • If aimer has a direct-object complement: [1]
    • no preposition or conjunction is needed to introduce a nominal or infinitive verbal complement;
    • que is used to introduce a complement consisting of a subjunctive verbal element or a prepositional locution.
  • If mieux has a complement of comparison, that complement can be marked in different ways depending on its contents: [1]
    • que introduces a complement consisting of nominal or pronominal elements;
    • que de introduces a complement consisting of an infinitive verbal element
      • note that de can optionally be omitted,[2] however, this may slightly alter the meaning;[3]
    • que si can be used to introduce a complement consisting of a verbal element conjugated in personal form.

References

[edit]
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 aimer”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
  2. ^ Maurice Grevisse, André Goosse, editors (1936), Le bon usage (in French), 14th edition, De Boeck Duculot, Éditions De Boeck Université, published 2008, →ISBN, §1131 c 2º, page 1473
  3. ^ Maurice Grevisse, André Goosse, editors (1936), Le bon usage (in French), 14th edition, De Boeck Duculot, Éditions De Boeck Université, published 2008, →ISBN, §1131 R2, page 1473