Question 1

Why is there no de or à after il vaut mieux?

Accepted Answer

When giving general advice, the expression il vaut mieux (it is better) is followed directly by an infinitive verb. You never use a preposition like de or à here—just il vaut mieux + infinitive!

Question 2

I thought valoir meant "to be worth." Why is it translated as "it is better"?

Accepted Answer

You are right! The verb valoir means "to be worth," so literally, il vaut mieux translates to "it is worth better." However, it functions as a fixed, impersonal expression in French used to give advice, so we translate it naturally as "it is better to" or "it would be best to."

Question 3

Why does bien come before the verb in pour bien cicatriser?

Accepted Answer

When short, common adverbs like bien, mal, or beaucoup modify an infinitive verb (like cicatriser), they are usually placed before the infinitive. That is why it is pour bien cicatriser instead of pour cicatriser bien.

Question 4

The translation says "to heal," but doesn't cicatriser mean "to scar"?

Accepted Answer

They are related! It shares a root with the word for scar (une cicatrice), but in French, cicatriser is the standard, everyday verb for a physical wound closing up and healing. It is a positive medical process and doesn't just focus on leaving a lasting mark like "to scar" does in English.

Il vaut mieux garder le pansement pour bien cicatriser.

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