Gender agreement with "un pair de chaussures"

Diego B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Gender agreement with "un pair de chaussures"

J'ai acheté deux paires de chaussures, mais ________ me va.

I wrote "ni l'un ni l'autre ne", but it was rejected. It says it's "ni l'une ni l'autre ne". Now, I understand we're talking about PAIRS of shoes, not just shoes, and "un pair" is masculine. So is this an error?

Asked 4 years ago
Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

A pair is "une paire", so it's feminine. 

There is a masculine noun "pair", but it means "peer". I think in Spanish both would be "un par", so maybe that confused you.

Diego B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Awesome. I wasn't aware of that, just did a quick search and found "un pair". Merci!

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

On the same theme, I wonder if you can answer the pair of shoes question with "J'ai acheté deux paires de chaussures mais aucune ne me va" ? I think the English was "but neither fit me" rather than "neither one nor the other fits me" (or "neither fits me" - think it should be fits, not fit btw)

Gender agreement with "un pair de chaussures"

J'ai acheté deux paires de chaussures, mais ________ me va.

I wrote "ni l'un ni l'autre ne", but it was rejected. It says it's "ni l'une ni l'autre ne". Now, I understand we're talking about PAIRS of shoes, not just shoes, and "un pair" is masculine. So is this an error?

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