Gender of argile

GC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Gender of argile

Cette argile is corrected to Cet argile yet argile is listed as feminine in the dictionary.

Asked 1 year ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Thank you very much for pointing this out G, the word 'argile' is indeed feminine so 'cette' is correct and has been corrected.

I must admit I would have made the mistake myself, the word not being one you use terribly frequently but it provoked a good discussion nevertheless.

Bonne Continuation !

NicoleA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Just as you learned with the indefinite articles  the demostrative adjectives go the same way if it goes before a mute h or a vowel you must use cut. Click the link below

Ce/cet/cette and ces = this/that and these/those (French Demonstrative Adjectives)

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill)C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Dear G:

C'est une bonne question ! 

I did this particular exercise, and I can say that given that "argile" is feminine than this rule applies, (as stated in the lesson referred to by Nicole):

" Ce is used with masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant; whereas cet is used with masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or mute h
-> This is to make pronunciation easier!

Note that it doesn't apply to feminine nouns starting with a vowel or mute h, as cette doesn't pose any pronunciation issue! "

And, in fact the lesson uses the example of "Cette aventure était amusante !" 

Maybe there is an error in the exercise?

PaulC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I agree with both G and N.Hilary - I could also only find "argile" as a feminine noun in the Larousse dictionary, and so I also believe there may be a spelling error in this exercise with "cette" being the intended spelling here.  

Gender of argile

Cette argile is corrected to Cet argile yet argile is listed as feminine in the dictionary.

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