The gender of a noun indicates whether a person or animal we are referring is male or female.
KINDS OF GENDER
There are four kinds of gender. They are -
• A noun that denotes a male person or animal is of the masculine gender. For example, king, prince, gander, fox.
• A noun that denotes a female person or animal is of the feminine gender. For example, queen, princess, goose, vixen.
• A noun that denote a male or female is of the common gender. For example, parent, teacher, cousin, neighbour.
• A noun that denotes neither male nor female (non-living things) is of the neuter gender. For example, book, pencil, table, stone.
FORMATION OF FEMININE GENDER
Nouns of the feminine gender are formed in a number of ways.
1. by using an entirely different word. For example,
MASCULINE FEMININE
buck doe
husband wife
sir madam
horse mare
monk nun
stallion mare
father mother
fox vixen
2. by adding was. For example,
MASCULINE FEMININE
baron baroness
count countess
giant giantess
heir heiress
3. by dropping the er or or and adding ess. For example,
MASCULINE FEMININE
tiger tigeress
emperor empress
hunter hunteress
waiter waitress
4. by changing the spelling before adding ess. For example,
MASCULINE FEMININE
duke duchess
master mistress
5. by adding a suffix or prefix. For example,
MASCULINE FEMININE
grandfather grandmother
he-goat she-goat
landlord landlady
man-servant maid-servant
milkman milkmaid
peacock peahen
Post a Comment