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
|