Noun-Gender | ||||||||
In Grammar-Nouns, there are FOUR GENDERS.
1. Masculine gender:
A noun is said to be in the Masculine gender if it refers to a male character or member of a species.
Man, lion, hero, boy, king, horse and actor are nouns of masculine gender.
Example:
• A boy is playing in the play-ground.
• Hero of the movie is not a native of this country.
In these sentences the words “boy" and “hero" are masculine-gender nouns.
The next in the Noun-Gender is feminine gender.
2. Feminine gender:
A noun is said to be in the feminine gender if it refers to a female member of a species.
Woman, lioness, heroine, girl, mare, niece, empress, cow and actress are few of the feminine-gender nouns that we use.
Example:
• A girl is playing in the play-ground.
• Heroine of the movie is not a native of this country.
In these sentences the words “girl" and “heroine" are feminine-gender nouns.
The next in the Noun-Gender is common gender.
3. Common gender:
A noun is said to be in Common gender if it refers to a member of species which can be a male or a female.
Child, student, friend, applicant, candidate, servant, member,
parliamentarian and leader are few of the common-gender nouns.
Example:
• A child is playing in the play-ground.
• A Parliamentarian should have command over his language.
In these sentences the words, “child" and “parliamentarian" are nouns of common gender.
The next in the Noun-Gender is neuter gender.
4. Neuter gender:
A noun is said to be in the neuter gender if it refers to a member of a species which is neither a male nor a female.
Normally nouns referring to lifeless objects are in neuter nouns.
Chair, table, tree, star, mountain, street, book, car, school,
paper, pencil and computer are few of the neuter nouns which
We use regularly.
Example:
• Computer has brought about drastic changes in our lives.
• Tree is cleansing the air.
• Stars are not visible in the day-time.
• Books are our best friends.
In these sentences the words, “computer", “tree", “stars" and “books" are the neuter-gender nouns.
NOTE:
a. Collective nouns, even if they refer to living-beings, are used as neuter-nouns.
Example:
i. The army is doing its task.
ii. The police are called to manage the situation.
In these sentences the nouns (army and police) refer to only living-beings. But they are used only as neuter-nouns.
b.Objects noted for their power, strength, and violence are used as Masculine gender nouns.
The sun, summer, time, death etc… are masculine-gender nouns.
Example:
i. The sun is so scorching now that we can not go out now to face him without an umbrella.
ii. The death is cruel. He is as certain as tomorrow.
In these sentences the words “sun" and “death" have been used as Masculine-gender nouns.
c. Objects noted for their beauty, gentleness and grace are used as feminine-gender nouns.
The moon, the earth, spring, charity etc… are feminine-gender nouns.
Example:
i. The moon is so bright at this time that she induces romantic mood in us.
ii. The earth is patient. Her beauty is spoiled day-by-day.
The masculine-genders and their respective feminine-genders have been given below for your reference.
Masculine genders-----Feminine genders
1. Bachelor----- Spinster
2. Bachelor----- Maid
3. Bullock----- Heifer
4. Dog----- Bitch
5. Drone------ Bee
6. Horse----- Mare
7. Nephew----- Niece
8. Jew----- Jewess
9. Wizard----- Witch
10. Heir----- Heiress
11. Manager----- Manageress
12. Poet----- Poetess
13. Shepherd----- Shepherdess
14. Benefactor----- Benefactress
15. Hunter----- Huntress
16. Negro----- Negress
17. Emperor----- Empress
18. Traitor----- Traitress
19. Prince----- Princess
20. Lion----- Lioness
21. Bull----- Cow
22. Ox----- Cow
23. Mayor----- Mayoress
24. Tiger----- Tigress
25. Actor----- Actress
26. Host----- Hostress
27. Uncle----- Aunt
28. Monk----- Nun
29. Gentleman----- Lady
30. Duck----- Duchess
Take many pracitising exercises to become familiar with the Noun-Gender. As you read books, note down the various gender- forms of nouns that you come across in those books. That is the best method for you to know the difference among the Noun-Genters.
Other sections on Nouns are here.
