Liked vs. Loved in Passé Composé

Todd L.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Liked vs. Loved in Passé Composé

To say "I liked spending time with you" which is the correct answer, or can they both be correct?

a) J'ai aimé...

b) J'ai bien aimé...

Asked 4 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Todd,

Here is a link on this specific topic: how-to-use-aimer-to-express-loving-and-liking-something-someone

Bonne journée!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In this case I would simply say: j'ai aimé passer du temps avec toi. In my understanding, J'ai bien aimé... is a weaker kind of liking. Something along the lines "it was ok passing time with you".

Todd L.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I thought “aimer” means love, so I wanted to “weaken” it to “aimé bien.” So to clarify my question, does “aimer” mean love only when it is directed at a person (as opposed to a thing or activity where it would mean “like”)?

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It means “love” also when directed at an object. If you want to express something weaker, I’d go with your second option. 

Liked vs. Loved in Passé Composé

To say "I liked spending time with you" which is the correct answer, or can they both be correct?

a) J'ai aimé...

b) J'ai bien aimé...

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