Gender has been divided into four categories.
1. Masculine gender:- A noun that
denotes male sex.
Examples
Boy, father, brother, Zaid, Saleem, etc.
2.Feminine gender:- A noun that denotes female sex.
Examples
Girl, mother, sister, Fatima, Nagma, etc.
3. Common gender:- A noun that denotes either male or female .
Examples
Doctor, teacher, student, engineer, singer, dancer, etc.
4. Neuter gender:- A noun that denotes a thing that is neither male nor female.
Examples
Pen, book, house, bottle, table, chair, etc.
Rule 1:- The masculine gender is often applied to the nouns associated with
Strength, violence and Courage.
The sun, summer, winter, time, death.
Examples
1.The sun was shining on the sea with all its might. (use- his)
2. Time itself heals all the wound. (use- himself)
3. Death completes its course, no one can stop it, (use- his & him )
Rule 2:- The feminine gender is applied to the nouns associated with Beauty, Gentleness, Softness.
The moon, the earth, spring, autumn, nature, liberty, justice, mercy, peace, hope, charity, ship, virtue, fortune, truth, pity.
Examples
1. Spring brings a lot of joy and hope with itself. (use- herself)
2. The ship lost all its boats in the cyclone. (use- her )
Rule 3:- Rules for making feminine gender from masculine gender.
1. Some nouns are changed into feminine gender by adding ‘ ess ’.
Masculine gender Feminine gender
Author authoress
Baron baroness
Giant giantess
Heir heiress
Host hostess
Jew jewess
Lion lioness
Manager manageress
Mayor mayoress
Patron patroness
Peer peeress
Poet poetess
Priest priestess
Prophet prophetess
Shepherd shepherdess
Steward stewardess
Tutor tutoress
Tailor tailoress.
2. In some nouns the last vowel is dropped from the masculine gender and ‘ess ‘ is added.
Masculine gender Feminine gender
Conductor conductress
Benefactor benefactress
Actor actress
Enchanter enchantress
Founder foundress
Hunter huntress
Instructor instructress
Negro negress
Abbot abbess
Duke duchess
Emperor empress
Preceptor preceptress
Prince princess
Songster songstress
Tempter tempress
Seamster seamstress
Tiger tigress
Traitor traitress
Waiter waitress
Master mistress
Murderer murderess
Sorcerer sorceress
3. By exchanging a word before or after.
Masculine gender Feminine gender
Grandfather grandmother
Great-uncle great-aunt
Manservant maidservant
Landlord landlady
Milkman milk woman
Peacock pea hen
Salesman saleswoman
Washer man washerwoman
Brother-in-law sister-in-law
Duck rabbit doe rabbit
He bear she bear
Jack ass jenny ass
Head master head mistress
Step father step mother
He-goat she goat
Cock-sparrow hen sparrow
Dog-wolf bitch wolf
Bull-calf cow-calf
4. There are some nouns that do not change in accordance with any special rule from male to female.
Masculine gender Feminine gender
Hero heroine
Testator testatrix
Czar czarina
Sultan sultana
Signor signora
Fox vixen
Administrator administratrix
Executor executrix
Lad lass
Prosecutor prosecutrix
Boar sow
Colt filly
Earl countess
Monk nun
Gander goose
Hart roe
Horse mare
King queen
Man woman
Mr. miss
Sheep ewe
Son daughter
Ox cow
Bachelor maid
Drone bee
Drake duck
Bull cow
Bridegroom bride
Gentleman lady
Husband wife
Lord lady
Nephew niece
Sir madam
widower widow
Wizard witch
5. Some important collective nouns.
A crowd of people
A herd of cattle
A group of students
A cluster/galaxy/constellation of stars.
A gang of robbers/labourers
A swarm of ants
A bundle of clothes
A flock of birds/sheep/geese
A jury of judges
A chain of mountains
A band of musicians
A volley of stones/shots/arrows/missiles
A heap of sand
A bunch of keys/grapes
A fleet of Ships
A choir of singers
A lock of hair
A bevy of ladies
A pair of shocks/shoes/trousers
A board of directors/examiners
A packet of cigarettes
A crew of sailors/boatmen
A mob of rioters
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