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Ferme La Bouche

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  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    aliasojo wrote: »
    I think you are being a pedant ONW.

    I've just re-read the above posts and it's perfectly clear to what I am referring, even if the terminology I used was incorrect.

    Not really, a prefix and an article are completely different things.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    mumneedshelp wrote: »

    What always got me what the fact that things were male or female. I could never get past un or une or la or le.


    In German they have 3 genders - male, female and neuter.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • January20
    January20 Posts: 3,769 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    edited 28 September 2011 at 5:41PM
    *max* wrote: »
    I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I've never heard it in that context! :)

    I have to agree with you here. "Ferme la bouche" in my opinion is not used by French people.

    And I also agree with you about the gender of words. I could give you two A4 pages of rules, telling you how the ending of a word will determine it's gender, but it would be pointless because there are so many exceptions. As you said, when you learn a new word, learn it's gender. Attach a "le" or a "la" to it to remember ie don't learn "tomate" for tomato, learn "la tomate".

    Sorry aliosojo, ONW is not a pedant. It's really important to know the correct term for words when learning a foreign language like French because grammar is so important - but I'm probably saying that because when I teach I really have to be clear!
    LBM: August 2006 £12,568.49 - DFD 22nd March 2012
    "The road to DF is long and bumpy" GreenSaints
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    neverdespairgirl wrote: »
    Not really, a prefix and an article are completely different things.

    So you were not able to work out from my posts I was trying to find out when to use 'le' and when to use 'la'.

    Did you click on the link which links 'le' with the masculine and 'la' with the feminine?

    Funny how everyone else was able to get the gist.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • neverdespairgirl
    neverdespairgirl Posts: 16,501 Forumite
    If your DD is just starting to learn a language, you might as well be right as wrong. It'll help her more.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    aliasojo wrote: »
    I think you are being a pedant ONW.

    I've just re-read the above posts and it's perfectly clear to what I am referring, even if the terminology I used was incorrect.

    I'm not being pedantic at all - you said prefix and that's what I thought you meant!
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Oldernotwiser wrote: »
    I'm not being pedantic at all - you said prefix and that's what I thought you meant!

    Well ONW, it's my belief that you are an intelligent person.

    I believe that you knew exactly what I was asking, regardless of the fact I used the word 'prefix'.

    We will need to agree to disagree.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    aliasojo wrote: »
    Well ONW, it's my belief that you are an intelligent person.

    I believe that you knew exactly what I was asking, regardless of the fact I used the word 'prefix'.

    We will need to agree to disagree.

    Yes we will agree to disagree and, at least, we have both learnt something!;)
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Oldernotwiser wrote: »
    Yes we will agree to disagree and, at least, we have both learnt something!;)

    What did you learn? That I know little or nothing when it comes to the French language? :D
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • Newly_retired
    Newly_retired Posts: 3,187 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There are those who know not and know not that they know not. They are fools : shun them.

    There are those who know not and know that they know not. They are scholars : help them.

    There are those who know and know that they know. They are masters; follow them.
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