The French Language

[RustyRuss]

I am inclined to agree.

In French, 'Blood' is masculine, and the fact that it was a female that was cut, does not have any effect upon the gender of the blood - Le sang.

Could it not be that simple ?

Meanwhile: La plume de ma tante est dans le bureau de mon oncle - or maybe 'Le stylo' would be more up to date ?

Big fail in French GCE back in '59 - Speaking French with a Scouse accent was not easy.

Coincidentally we’re in France at the moment, on Ile de Re.
I asked the barman to translate and I’m a little worried about why your Aunt’s penis is in your Uncle’s desk?! Is this some kind of trans-LGBTQ-wardrobe (I identify as a wardrobe) thing or have I been misinformed by my bar steward?

 

[Spriddler]

Patrice, pointing skywards: "Look Alain, there's une hélicoptère".
Alain, shading his eyes from the sun: "Non Patrice, c'est un hélicoptère".
Patrice with a shrug: "Ah, évidemment your eyesight is better than mine".

 

[Carpmart]

With gender, I get very confused!

Why are fish le poisson masculine yet a certain type of fish (we have already established masculinity for fish in the French language) for example, la carpe, why is that feminine?

 

[RustyRuss]

Females are good at carping? I’ll just fetch my hat…….

 

[Spriddler]

With gender, I get very confused!

Why are fish le poisson masculine yet a certain type of fish (we have already established masculinity for fish in the French language) for example, la carpe, why is that feminine?

75% of French words ending with an 'e' are feminine. They just are.

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[Jane NotRog]

And if you think French is bad, German is even worse. They add another gender, neuter, but then they just don’t just use it for inanimate objects but mix all the three genders up anyway. So “girl” is neuter, and “table” is feminine. it’s madness, I tell you. We should all be like the Finns, no gender at all.

 

[Carpmart]

It all makes my head hurt!

 

[Trevor Wbm]

The standout French phrase I learned from Duolingo was "There's a cow in my living room", which I've found very useful on many occasions. Sadly, the responses have been mixed.

We've got a static van on a site in France. One of the English phrases many of the French owners were taught was 'Brian is in the kitchen'.
They've recently employed a (French) lad called Brian as part time chef. I've lost track of the number of times I've been told where he is. Usual response is 'Oui, mais ou est Toto?'

 

[tacr2man]

The standout French phrase I learned from Duolingo was "There's a cow in my living room", which I've found very useful on many occasions. Sadly, the responses have been mixed.

luckily they hadn't gone upstairs

 

[cyberyacht]

I knew building the Tower of Babel was a bad idea.

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[Trevor Wbm]

75% of French words ending with an 'e' are feminine. They just are.

View attachment 910623

At the risk of being super picky, caisson is a box.

 

[maison]

When we first bought a place in France we worried about the language as very few people in our rural area spoke English. Would we get the right gender, the correct tense etc.

After a few days I confided this to a neighbour who said “your French is better than our English, we have none”. He then went on to say don’t worry about such things we will understand you. If you wish we can correct you. Just talk, that is the best way to learn.

We never became totally fluent but managed to get by in a non-English speaking area for 16 years.

 

[bellabee]

And if you think French is bad, German is even worse. They add another gender, neuter, but then they just don’t just use it for inanimate objects but mix all the three genders up anyway. So “girl” is neuter, and “table” is feminine. it’s madness, I tell you. We should all be like the Finns, no gender at all.

And not to forget that adjectival endings in German vary according to both gender an case!

 

[Montezuma]

Coincidentally we’re in France at the moment, on Ile de Re.
I asked the barman to translate and I’m a little worried about why your Aunt’s penis is in your Uncle’s desk?! Is this some kind of trans-LGBTQ-wardrobe (I identify as a wardrobe) thing or have I been misinformed by my bar steward?

Always remember: "The Penis Mightier Than The Sword".

 

[yodeli]

And if you think French is bad, German is even worse. They add another gender, neuter, but then they just don’t just use it for inanimate objects but mix all the three genders up anyway. So “girl” is neuter, and “table” is feminine. it’s madness, I tell you. We should all be like the Finns, no gender at all.

We do have neuter but only with "pronoms personnels" je, tu il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles ....... AND ... "ON"
On mange quand? J'ai faim!
Où allez-vous? On va en ville

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[Spriddler]

At the risk of being super picky, caisson is a box.

I spotted that and took it as their spelling error for 'cuisson'.
So there's little hope for the rest of us if you can't trust l'Académie française to get it right

 

[yodeli]

With gender, I get very confused!

Why are fish le poisson masculine yet a certain type of fish (we have already established masculinity for fish in the French language) for example, la carpe, why is that feminine?

Ok let's play then ! Why on earth English language which doesn't do feminine and masculine says SHE for a ship (a thing!) and Mister Fly for a fly? Why fruit are sold singular , while if I don't mistake you are perfectly allowed to say I've bought bananas , and cherries? I know there are quite a few other similar silly billy things but I can't recall them right now.

 

[yodeli]

For those who can understand some French , this one is a good giggle!
When I have more time, if you remind me to do so beginning of August I'll give the translation for all the others!

 

[Phill D]

Don’t we all sound t like this to our French colleagues

 

[yodeli]

Errrr..... NO! And I don't think I speak English that way either!

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[Spriddler]

Don’t we all sound t like this to our French colleagues

I'm quite often assumed to be a Belgian - not too sure how to take that .

 

[maison]

I'm quite often assumed to be a Belgian - not too sure how to take that .

I am a Cumbrian by birth, although I left there over 50 years ago.

Nevertheless, my “northern” accent (in French pronunciation), led many of our French neighbours to think I was German, initially.

 

[Spriddler]

Nevertheless, my “northern” accent (in French pronunciation), led many of our French neighbours to think I was German, initially.

My French master for 4 years at grammar school was a Yorkshireman. It took me three years working in Paris to get rid of the accent.

 

[Rapides]

Funny, isn’t it? The way I learnt French was all about the written word, so the agreement of past participles and all that stuff comes as second nature to me. In fact, I reckon I can give a native speaker a god run for their money when it comes to getting grammar correct. But can I speak the language well 45 years after my formal studying finished? Pas du tout, mon brave.

 

[yodeli]

I could give you some past participles to think about, but the problem is that I'll never be sure you didn't look up on the internet to get the right answer. As teachers all of us 3 (my mum, my sister and I) we've had quite a few battles with grammar books and dictionnaries at reach of course. It's very difficicult to find the right answer at times AND explain the "why this and not that"!

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[Minxy]

I am a Cumbrian by birth, although I left there over 50 years ago.

Nevertheless, my “northern” accent (in French pronunciation), led many of our French neighbours to think I was German, initially.

Same here, I'd rather be considered Belgian as they produce chocolate!

 

[Shrimp]

Sorry, none of the above helps.
Why do inanimate objects have to be male or female?
No! Don’t answer that, not bovvered!

 

[Grasmere9]

I took am working on my French through Duolingo and I often get the grammar side incorrect but my spoken and listening is fine!
I am not too troubled by this because they often sound the same when spoken!
I love France and one day would like to move there.

 

[Grasmere9]

When we first bought a place in France we worried about the language as very few people in our rural area spoke English. Would we get the right gender, the correct tense etc.

After a few days I confided this to a neighbour who said “your French is better than our English, we have none”. He then went on to say don’t worry about such things we will understand you. If you wish we can correct you. Just talk, that is the best way to learn.

We never became totally fluent but managed to get by in a non-English speaking area for 16 years.

My friend in Chenas says exactly the same. I always try to join in with conversations or sit and listen to pick up new phrases.
I also get them to correct me...all helps.

 

[Grasmere9]

I could give you some past participles to think about, but the problem is that I'll never be sure you didn't look up on the internet to get the right answer. As teachers all of us 3 (my mum, my sister and I) we've had quite a few battles with grammar books and dictionnaries at reach of course. It's very difficicult to find the right answer at times AND explain the "why this and not that"!

I would love to come and meet you! I too am a teacher and love France

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