English Grammar - Classification of nouns - Gender

English Grammar Module 2: Classification of nouns - Gender

Based on Gender, nouns can be can be classified as:

1. Masculine nouns
2. Feminine nouns
3. Nouns denoting common gender
4. Nouns denoting neutral gender

1. Masculine nouns

Nouns that indicate male gender are called masculine nouns.

Examples: boy, man, bull, uncle

2. Feminine nouns

Nouns that indicate female gender are called feminine nouns.

Examples: girl, lady, cow, aunt

3. Nouns denoting Common gender

Nouns that indicate in general to both male and female are called nouns denoting common gender.

Examples: Student, doctor, child, relative

4. Nouns denoting neutral gender

Nouns that are neither male nor female are called nouns denoting neutral gender.

Examples: silver, wheat, chair, lake

Formation of feminine forms when masculine is given:

I. Addition of suffix : -ess

Masculine - Feminine

prince - princess

god - godess

lion - lioness

tiger - tigress

emperor - empress

II. Altering the male and female in compound words

Masculine - Feminine

policeman - policewoman

businessman - businesswoman

chairman - chairwoman

III. Irregular formation - A completely new word

Masculine - Feminine

Father - Mother

Boy - Girl

Sir - Madam

Brother - Sister

Cock - Hen

Some masculine and feminine forms

Masculine - Feminine

master - mistress
waiter - waitress
jew - jewess
shepherd- shepherdess
duke - duchess
sportsman - sportswoman
landlord - landlady
peacock - peahen
drake - duck
fox - vixen
gander - goose
boar - sow
nephew - niece
wizard - witch
dog - bitch
colt - filly
bullock - heifer
monk - nun
bridegroom - bride
Buck - doe