A Frenchman was once traveling in England. He could speak English quite well but not perfectly. For one thing, his vocabulary was not large.

One day, he was having a meal in a small country hotel and wanted to order some eggs. But he couldn't remember the word for eggs.

Suddenly, through the window, he saw a rooster walking in the yard. He immediately asked the waiter what the bird was called in English.

The waiter told him that it was called a rooster.

The Frenchman then asked what the rooster's wife was called.

The waiter told him that she was called a hen.

The Frenchman then asked what the hen's children were called.

The waiter told him that they were chickens.

The Frenchman then asked what the chickens were called before they were born.

The waiter told him they were called eggs.

"Fine!" said the Frenchman. "Please bring me two eggs and a cup of coffee.