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There are four genders:
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:
Masculine | Feminine | Masculine | Feminine |
author | authoress | host | hostess |
lion | lioness | giant | giantess |
poet | poetess | priest | priestess |
heir | heiress | shepherd | shepherdess |
Sometimes the form is slightly changed before adding –ess:
Masculine | Feminine | Masculine | Feminine |
actor | actress | prince | princess |
tiger | tigress | emperor | empress |
duke | duchess | master | mistress |
god | goddess | waiter | waitress |
2. By using different words:
Masculine | Feminine | Masculine | Feminine |
boy | girl | gentleman | lady |
man | woman | uncle | aunt |
father | mother | bull | cow |
brother | sister | horse | mare |
dog | bitch | lord | lady |
husband | wife | cock | hen |
king | queen | bachelor | maid |
sir | madam | nephew | niece |
son | daughter | monk | nun |
3. Feminines of compound nouns – We change the chief word of compound nouns:
Masculine | Feminine | Masculine | Feminine |
grand-father | grand-mother | fisher-man | fisher-woman |
pea-cock | pea-hen | land-lord | land-lady |
he-goat | she-goat | cock-sparrow | hen-sparrow |
milk-man | milk-woman |
Note: Some more masculine and feminine forms of nouns:
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1. What are the different genders of nouns in English? | ![]() |
2. How can I identify the gender of a noun? | ![]() |
3. Are there any exceptions to the rules of noun genders? | ![]() |
4. Why is it important to understand noun gender? | ![]() |
5. Can nouns change gender in different contexts? | ![]() |