Cette argile is corrected to Cet argile yet argile is listed as feminine in the dictionary.
Gender of argile
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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 !
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)
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?
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.
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