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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:

 

MasculineFeminineMasculineFeminine
authorauthoresshosthostess
lionlionessgiantgiantess
poetpoetesspriestpriestess
heirheiressshepherdshepherdess

Sometimes the form is slightly changed before adding –ess:

 

MasculineFeminineMasculineFeminine
actoractressprinceprincess
tigertigressemperorempress
dukeduchessmastermistress
godgoddesswaiterwaitress

 

2. By using different words:

 

MasculineFeminineMasculineFeminine
boygirlgentlemanlady
manwomanuncleaunt
fathermotherbullcow
brothersisterhorsemare
dogbitchlordlady
husbandwifecockhen
kingqueenbachelormaid
sirmadamnephewniece
sondaughtermonknun

 

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

 

MasculineFeminineMasculineFeminine
grand-fathergrand-motherfisher-manfisher-woman
pea-cockpea-henland-lordland-lady
he-goatshe-goatcock-sparrowhen-sparrow
milk-manmilk-woman 
 


Note: Some more masculine and feminine forms of nouns: 

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

The document Principles of Nouns: Gender | English Class 8 is a part of the Class 8 Course English Class 8.
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FAQs on Principles of Nouns: Gender - English Class 8

1. What are the principles of nouns in the English language?
Ans. The principles of nouns in the English language refer to the rules and guidelines that govern the usage and classification of nouns. They include concepts such as gender, number, and case.
2. What is gender in nouns and why is it important?
Ans. Gender in nouns refers to the classification of nouns into masculine, feminine, or neuter genders. It is important because it determines the agreement of other words, such as pronouns and adjectives, with the noun in terms of their gender.
3. How many genders are there in English nouns?
Ans. In English, there are two genders for most nouns - masculine and feminine. However, there are also some nouns that are classified as neuter gender.
4. Can a noun change its gender?
Ans. In English, most nouns do not change their gender. However, there are some nouns that can be used in both masculine and feminine forms, such as "actor/actress" or "waiter/waitress."
5. How can I determine the gender of a noun?
Ans. The gender of a noun in English is not always predictable based on its meaning. It is often determined by the word's form or ending. For example, nouns ending in "-ess" are usually feminine, while those ending in "-or" are often masculine. However, there are exceptions to these patterns, so it is important to consult a dictionary or language resource for accurate gender information.
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