Le Café des flamants roses has a small garden where people can talk English to ask questions about what is being said in French in the café

In the café:

Les peintures sont modernes.

Mais les peintures sont dans le style d'autrefois.

Les peintures sont d'un artiste local.

L'artiste est une femme.

Elle a vu des peintures d'oiseaux au Château de Chenonceau.

Elle aimait le style.

Elle a utilisé ce style.

As the artist is female, in

Les peintures sont d'un artiste local.

Should that be 'une artiste' or does one use 'un' because the noun is masculine even though the person is female?

My French is non existent EP, but I do like Audubon! ???
That’s the limit of my contribution, I’m afraid ?

"artiste" can be either masculine or feminine.

www.linguee.com/french-english/translation/une+artiste.html

Thank you.

For anna7 - you use vous êtes because it is you plural. Tu es for one person you know well. Whether to use vous or tu can be a minefield, but if they say tu, you can use it back. Otherwise vous is safer.

ElderlyPerson

Thank you.

"le/la professeur" is the same.

However, if you are taking about a groups of artists or teachers, some of whom are male and some female, any adjective would be in the masculine plural form.

Could it be expressed as if one were to say "hello dear"?

So, if it is your cat, or your girlfriend, maybe alright.

But if using "hello dear" would not be right, don't use 'tu' in French.

I know that 'tu' is more like 'thou', but maybe that analogy sums it up.

growstuff

ElderlyPerson

Thank you.

"le/la professeur" is the same.

However, if you are taking about a groups of artists or teachers, some of whom are male and some female, any adjective would be in the masculine plural form.

Thank you.

A missing mixed gender word for 'they' in French?

I was talking to a lady doctor many years ago and there was a leaflet with something about "ask your doctor if he will refer you to a specialist".

As we looked at it, we caught each others glance.

"Doctors are always male!" she said, and smiled.

We laughed.

I remember a famous cartoon from the era of The Great War.

A young woman, standing, is talking to an older woman, who is seated.

"I've been escorted home by an officer and a gentleman."

"Lovely dear, ask them in for a cup of tea."

You can actually say "la ministre" for politicians now. The word "doctoresse" exists but my women doctor friends would not be happy to be called by it.
My students hate it when I use male and female in English as that is only for animals.

Mamie

You can actually say "la ministre" for politicians now. The word "doctoresse" exists but my women doctor friends would not be happy to be called by it.
My students hate it when I use male and female in English as that is only for animals.

In the third sentence, how do you mean please?

Can you give an example of a sentence that they hate please?

I am teaching them English - so if I say that something is available for male or female (people), they find it really hard to use the words, as in French it is for animals.

Sorry not a very clear explanation - the words mâle et femelle are for animals.

Has some of this thread disappeared ?

Sorry different thread.

ElderlyPerson

Could it be expressed as if one were to say "hello dear"?

So, if it is your cat, or your girlfriend, maybe alright.

But if using "hello dear" would not be right, don't use 'tu' in French.

I know that 'tu' is more like 'thou', but maybe that analogy sums it up.

Hmm. I’d disagree. If you would use somebody’s first name then it’s “tu”. You would also address small children automatically as “tu”.
The “dear” is a bit confusing as I wouldn’t call anybody “dear” !!

I always taught pupils that "tu" is OK if you would call somebody by his/her first name or if you're talking to a child or family member. Otherwise, play safe and call them "vous".

The problem with using "my dear" as an example is that the direct French translation can be used when talking to somebody one doesn't know well, in which case, use "vous".

There are some examples here:

www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/french-english/mon-cher

Thank you both.

Thank you Mamie. I should have known that.

I use google translate.

I try to write it in French and then I use Google translate to translate to English, then do a swap so as to see how Google translate translates the English into French, then I have a look any differences, there usually are some, then perhaps alter the English to make it simpler, and so on until I think it is all correct. Putting an individual word or two or three words on a separate line is helpful as a temporary sidebar to check gender and so on.

In the café there is the following

Excusez moi je n’avez pas Francais dans l‘ecole .
En Mercredi je vais ?‍♀️ dans la Mer en Kent, pas de froid et je etais tres heureuse.
Au Jour dui le soleil est ne pas dans evidence. Il vent arrivez et peutetre l‘ete est fini.
Je espere not. A bientot mes ami.

A good effort, but even with my limited knowledge of French I can note some places where an alteration would improve it.

As the café is intended to help people learn, could the teachers advise please?

Can we have some pointers set please as to whether posters want to be corrected, and
as to whether they want explanations in French or English? Don't want to jump on anyone's attempts and upset them.

I have picked up what little I know from holidays etc so many mistakes but if it is even very roughly understandable I am happy. However any correction will be gratefully accepted.
I have a book ..The Franglais Lieutenants Woman, it is very amusing and surprisingly easy to understand even for me a total amateur.
Thank you EP.

Oh please do Ellianne. .