aimer mieux

aimer mieux

French

Etymology

Comparative of aimer bien[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ.me mjø/, /e.me mjø/

Verb

aimer mieux

1. (literally) to like better
2. to prefer

   Synonym: préférer

   J'aime mieux la campagne que la ville. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   J'aimerais encore mieux ne plus jamais en parler. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   N'aimeriez-vous pas mieux le voir par vous-même ? ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   J'aime bien mieux savoir que de croire. ― I prefer knowing to believing.

   Est-ce que tu aimerais mieux que je le fasse ? ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Usage notes

• 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

1. “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, 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, 14th edition, De Boeck Duculot, Éditions De Boeck Université, published 2008, →ISBN, §1131 R2, page 1473