feminine or masculine

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <882564BA.00740C47.00@notes.toyota.com> Wendell_Gurley@notes.toyota.com writes:

> I always think of my car as masculine.  In Deutsche, the proper reference
> would also be masculine...Der Audi, Der Mercedes, Der Volkswagen etc.  

You can use articles of any gender in German, because the actual noun in this 
case is implicit.  Der Audi (implying "der Wagen"), das Audi (implying "das 
Auto" or "das Kraftfahrzeug") or die Audi (implying something less formal like 
"die Kiste") would all do - the latter being just a bit of a stretch.  

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club