Principles of Nouns: Gender | English Class 8 PDF Download

There are four genders: 

1. Masculine Gender
 2. Feminine Gender
 3. Common Gender
 4. Neuter Gender 

1. Masculine Gender: A noun that denotes a male person or animal is said to be of the masculine gender; e.g., tiger, emperor, prince, son, etc. 

2. Feminine Gender: A noun that denotes a female person or animal is said to be of the feminine gender; e.g., tigress, empress, princess, daughter, etc.

3. Common Gender:  A noun that denotes both a male and a female is said to be of the common gender; e.g., teacher, doctor, student, friend, parent, baby, etc. 

4. Neuter Gender: Any noun that denotes a non-living thing is said to be of the Neuter gender; e.g., table, television, pen, desk, house, temple, mosque, etc.

FORMATION OF FEMININE GENDER OF NOUNS

There are three ways in which masculine nouns can be changed into feminine nouns.

1. By adding –ess to the masculine:

Sometimes the form is slightly changed before adding –ess:

2. By using different words:

3. Feminines of compound nouns – We change the chief word of compound nouns:

Note: Some more masculine and feminine forms of nouns: 

hero – heroine
 widower – widow
 bridegroom – bride
 Mr – Mrs