DEFINITION OF GENDER
The words which classify a noun or pronoun as feminine, masculine or neuter are called gender.
Types of Gender
There are Four kinds of Gender in English grammar
- Masculine
- Feminine
- Neuter
- Common
DEFINITION OF MASCULINE GENDER
Masculine Nouns are nouns that are masculine in nature.
The masculine gender refers to a noun that refers to a male person or animal.
For example:- boy, king, and bull.
DEFINITION OF FEMININE GENDER
The feminine gender refers to a noun that refers to a female person or animal.
For example:- “girl,” “queen,” and “cow” come to mind.
DEFINITION OF NEUTER GENDER
A neuter gender noun is one that denotes something that is neither male nor female.
For example:- a leaf, a fruit, a pencil, and a piece of paper.
DEFINITION OF COMMON GENDER
The term “common gender” refers to a noun that can be used to describe both male and female gender.
For example:- Person, father, enemy, servant, and neighbour.
How to make Feminine from Masculine gender.
- By changing the word entirely
Masculine | Feminine |
Boy | Girl |
Brother | Sister |
Bull | Cow |
Bridegroom | Bride |
Buck | Doe |
Bachelor | Maid/spinster |
Bullock | Heifer |
Boar | Sow |
Cock | Hen |
Colt | Filly |
Dog | Bitch |
Drake | Duck |
Drone | Bee |
Father | Mother |
Fox | Vixen |
Gentleman | Gentle Lady |
Gander | Goose |
Horse | Mare |
Hart | Roe |
Hero | Heroine |
Husband | Wife |
King | Queen |
Lad | Lass |
Lord | Lady |
Man | Woman |
Male | Female |
Nephew | Niece |
Pappa/Dadd | Mamma |
Monk | Nun |
Ram | Ewe |
Sir | Madame |
Stallion | Mare |
Stag | Hind |
Son | Daughter |
Tailor | Seamstress |
Uncle | Aunt |
Widower | Widow |
Wizard | Witch |
- By adding “ess” to the masculine noun without changing the original word.
Masculine
| Feminine
|
Author Baron Count Giant God Host Heir Jew Lion Prince Peer Patron Priest Shepherd Manager Poet Tutor Steward
| Authoress Baroness Countess Giantess Goddess Hostess Heiress Jewess Lioness Princess Peeress Patroness Priestess Shepherdess Manageress Poetess Tutoress Stewardess
|
- By adding “ess” after dropping the vowel of the last syllable of the masculine.
Masculine | Feminine |
Actor Benefactor Conductor Director Doctor Enchanter Hunter Instructor Inspector Governor Songster Tiger Traitor Waiter Porter | Actress Benefactress Conductress Directress Doctress Enchantress Huntress Instructress Inspectress Governess Songstress Tigress Traitress Waitress Portress |
- -By joining – “ess” in a less regular way
Masculine | Feminine |
Abot Duke Emperor Master Master Mr. Murderer Marquis Sorcerer | Abotess Duchess Empress Mistress Miss Mrs. Murderess Marchioness/Marquess Sorceress |
- By adding a feminine word with masculine part of the compound noun
Masculine |
Feminine
|
Duck-rabbit He goat Bull-calf Cock-sparrow Billy goat Jack-ass Brother-in-law Father-in-law Son-in-law Mankind Man-servant Male-servant Male-child Boy-baby | Doe-rabbit She goat Cow-calf Hen-sparrow Nanny goat She-ass Sister-in-law Mother-in-law Daughter-in-law Womankind Maid-servant Female-servant Female-child Girl-baby |
6.-By changing the second part of the compound noun.
Masculine | Feminine |
School-master Washer man Milkman Beggar man • Fisherman Gentleman God-father Foster-father Step-brother Grandfather Pea-cock Landlord | School-mistress Washerwoman Milkmaid Beggar woman Fisherwoman Gentlewoman God-mother Foster-mother Step-sister Grandmother Pea-hen Landlady |
- The following modes of distinction between masculine and feminine are exceptional.
Masculine
| Feminine
| Masculine
| Feminine
|
Bridegroom Widower
| bride widow
| Fox
| vixen
|
- Masculine and feminine forms of some common genders.
Common | Masculine | Feminine |
Child Calf Deer Sheep Cat Pig Fowl Horse Parent Person Student Teacher Spouse Servant Orphan Boy Monarch | Son, Boy Bullock hart, Stag Ram Male cat Boar Cock Stallion Father Man Male student Male teacher Husband Man-servant without parents King/Emperor | Girl, Daughter Heifer Roe, Hind Ewe Female cat Sow Hen Mare Mother Woman Female/Girl student Female teacher Wife Male-servant Girl without parents Queen/Empress |
- The following nouns of common gender take males before them to form masculine and females to form feminine.
Common
| Masculine
| Feminine
|
bird | male bird
| female bird
|
cousin
| male cousin
| female cousin
|
enemy
| male enemy
| female enemy
|
baby
| male baby
| female baby
|
infant
| male infant
| female infant
|
pupil
| male pupil
| female pupil
|
scholar
| male scholar
| female scholar
|
friend
| male friend
| female friend
|
singer
| male singer
| female singer
|