bon vs bonnes

Eve B.A2Kwiziq community member

bon vs bonnes

"Elles sentent bonnes" is incorrect, why can't you change bon is this setting? Thanks :)

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Eve,

In this case, 'bon', acts as an adverb, not an adjective and doesn't agree with the subject.

You could say for instance -

Ces fleurs ont une bonne odeur. 

but it is more French to say -

Elle sentent bon ( ou mauvais) = They smell good ( or bad) 

Hope this helps!

Jean d.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Would love to see this noted in the lesson.

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Jean, 

This is already mentioned in the lesson -

Note that, in the specific case of sentir, even though bon and mauvais are adjectives, these are fixed expressions, so bon and mauvais NEVER change (no agreement).

Eve B. asked:

bon vs bonnes

"Elles sentent bonnes" is incorrect, why can't you change bon is this setting? Thanks :)

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