Here's how I learned it. You are with Mary and John. You encounter Joe, a person you know but Mary and John don't. You say, "Joe, let me present my friends Mary and John."
Of course, having learned this in the fourth grade, i could have faulty memory--shocking!-- or the rules could have changed. I really don't remember the man/woman thing, but it kind of makes sense when applied, say, 50 years ago.
|