It has to do with the construction of the word not whether there is a male or a female meaning behind it. A lot of words in French that end with "e" are feminine, la porte, la fenêtre - even la barbe, which means beard. But I don't know why it should be "la maison" (house)!
So much simpler in English, as are verbs. But the French say that English is hard because there aren't enough rules and there are too many different ways of saying the same thing!
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Lantana, have you noticed that if, as a pedestrian you allow a car to go round a corner before you cross or similar courtesy, the driver never acknowledges it. But if you're a a driver extending the same courtesy, you get a wave or a nod.
There is a triangular antipathy (if such a thing can exist) between some motorists, some cyclists and some pedestrians. I, of course, am a model of care, courtesy and consideration when in all three roles but .....
If someone accidentally crosses a person's path when both are in pedestrian mode, it is unlikely that one or other will shout abuse. Put one of them in or on a vehicle .......
OH has put a carcam in, after so many near misses, watched his journey to work last night when he came home, transit van pulled in in front of him at the lat minute, amazing he didnt take the front off. He then tail gated the van in front of him for miles. Another overtook him and there ws something coming the other way!
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Yes - and German has neuter as a third gender too, like Latin - but not derived from it.
Good to see 'gender' being used correctly for a change!
It has to do with the construction of the word not whether there is a male or a female meaning behind it. A lot of words in French that end with "e" are feminine, la porte, la fenêtre - even la barbe, which means beard. But I don't know why it should be "la maison" (house)!
So much simpler in English, as are verbs. But the French say that English is hard because there aren't enough rules and there are too many different ways of saying the same thing!
But many of them have French roots.
Lantana, have you noticed that if, as a pedestrian you allow a car to go round a corner before you cross or similar courtesy, the driver never acknowledges it. But if you're a a driver extending the same courtesy, you get a wave or a nod.
There is a triangular antipathy (if such a thing can exist) between some motorists, some cyclists and some pedestrians. I, of course, am a model of care, courtesy and consideration when in all three roles but .....
If someone accidentally crosses a person's path when both are in pedestrian mode, it is unlikely that one or other will shout abuse. Put one of them in or on a vehicle .......
OH has put a carcam in, after so many near misses, watched his journey to work last night when he came home, transit van pulled in in front of him at the lat minute, amazing he didnt take the front off. He then tail gated the van in front of him for miles. Another overtook him and there ws something coming the other way!
"He then tail gated the van in front of him for miles."
"Are you sure that's wise, sir", as Sergeant Wilson might have said.
White van, was it?
Nanny, what would he do if someone bumped into his trolley in the supermarket?I can see him tailgating them up and down the aisles