Test result contradicts lesson

Question

Test question:How would you say «This computer works the best»? Cet ordinateur
marche ________.The answer is given as mieux.But the lesson says:Use meilleure when qualifying something as good/better/the best at what it does, i.e. efficient/practical,
or good/better/the best in
taste (food):

Quel est le meilleur aspirateur?Which is the best vacuum cleaner?Why is it right for a vacuum, but wrong for a computer?

Accepted Answer

Hi Anna,
This issue has also confused me in the past.
I think the point is that we are looking for a modifier for the verb 'marcher' so we need an adverb to express how well this computer works hence "mieux".
The other point you raise  --  what is requiring modification  - a verb or a noun?
In the case of the vacuum cleaner it is the noun, but a verb in the first point.
Hope this helps.
Jim

Answer

I think the difference is in the use of bon or bien - itself defined by whether we are qualifying a noun or a verb, as Jim says. Cet aspirateur est bon, l'autre est meilleur, et il y en a un qui est le meilleur. Il y a un ordinateur qui marche bien, et un autre qui marche mieux.