Noun Gender

Gender shows the difference of sex. It is of four kinds in English.

1. Masculine Gender.

2. Feminine Gender.

3. Common Gender.

4. Neuter Gender.

1. Masculine Gender

Nouns that stand for Male is called Masculine Gender; as,

Uncle, Boy, Dog, Brother, Poet, Father, Man, Husband, Horse, King, Ox, Poet

2. Feminine Gender

Nouns that stand for Female are called Feminine Gender; as,

Aunt, Girl, Bitch, Poetess, Mother, Woman, Wife, Mare, Queen, Cow, Sister

3. Neuter Gender

Nouns that stand for lifeless things are Neuter Gender; as,

Lamp, Toy, Cup, Room, Watch, Pen, Egg, Car, Needle Box

4. Common Gender

Nonuns that stand for either a male or a female are Common Gender; as,

Friend, Servant, Relative, Cousin, Orphan, Monarch, Cattle, Parent, Pupil, Student, Child Person

Ways of forming the Feminine Genders

Rule No. 1

By adding ess to the masculine.

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Lion	Lioness	Count	Countess
Jew	Jewess	Giant	Giantess
Heir	Heiress	Host	Hostess
Priest	Priestess	Poet	Poetess
Peer	Peeress	Prince	Princess

Rule No. 2

Masculines ending in consonant before a vowel, form their feminine by adding ess after dropping vowel;

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Actor	Actress	Hunter	Huntress
Instructor	Instructress	Protector	Protectress
Tiger	Tigress	Waiter	Waitress
Arbiter	Arbitress	Ambassador	Ambassdress
Director	Directress	Enchanter	Enchantress
Founder	Foundress	Proprieter	Proprietress
Traitor	Traitress	Tempter	Temptress

Rule No. 3

By adding ess irregularly to the masculine

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Abbot	Abess	Governor	Governess
Duke	Duchess	Master	Mastress
Emperor	Emperess	Murderer	Murdress

Rule No. 4

By adding a, trix or ine to the masculine.

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Hero	Heroine	Administrator	Administratrix
Testator	Testatrix	Fox	Vixen
Sultan	Sultana	Executor	Executrix

Rule No. 5

By adding a word before or after the masculine

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
He-goat	She-goat	He-bear	She-bear
Jack-ass	Jenny-ass	Bull-calf	Cow-calf
Land-lord	Land-Lady	Pea-cock	Pea-hen
Cock-sparrow	He-sparrow	Grand-son	Grand-daughter
Man-servant	Maid-servant	Milk-man	Milk-maid
Washer-man	Washer-woman	Step-father	Step-mother

Rule No. 6

Some masculine form their feminine irregularly

Examples

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Brother	Sister	Bull	Cow
Cock	Hen	Dog	Bitch
Father	Mother	Horse	Mare
King	Queen	Lord	Lady
Man	Woman	Nephew	Niece
Sir	Madam	Son	Daughter
Uncle	Aunt	Husband	Wife
Monk	Nun	Lad	Lass
Wizard	Witch	Mr.	Mrs.
Gander	Goose	Stag	Hind

Remember 1

Following Nouns always used as Common Genger

Parents	Cat	Baby	Relative
Person	Servant	Sheep	Child
Cattle	Cousin	Pupil	Neighbour
Friend	Mouse	Deer	Orphan

Remember 2

Following Nouns always used as Masculine

Horse	Elephant	Time	Tiger
Summer	Sun	Dog	Winter
Death and animal or things of strength

Remember 3

Following Nouns always used as Feminine

Ship	The Earth	Dawn	The Moon
Nurse	Spring	Train	Mid-wife
Nature and names of the countries of the world

Remember 4

Common Nouns are always used in all four genders i.e. Masculine, Feminine, Common and Neuter gender

Remember 5

Proper Nouns are always used as Masculine, Feminine or Neuter Gender