gender nouns| types, definition, examples, formation

Nouns can also be classified based on Gender. Gender comes from the Latin word “genus”, which means “kind or sort”.

Types of Nouns based on Gender

Gender divides the Nouns into 4 basic types based on the presence or absence of a specific type of gender.

1. Masculine Gender

A noun that is used to refer to a male animal, is said to be of the Masculine Gender. For example:

• Boy
• Lion
• Peacock
• Grandfather
• Jew

Characteristics of Masculine Gender

Strength and violence are the two basic characteristics that are associated with the Masculine Gender. So, the objects that can be personified and have these qualities, can be classified as Masculine. For example:

• The Sun
• Summer
• Winter
• Time
• Death

Objects as Masculine

Objects that have violence and strength, are called Masculine Gender.

• The sun sheds its beams on rich and poor alike.

2. Feminine Gender

A noun that is used to refer to a female animal, is said to be of the Feminine Gender. For example:

• Girl
• Lioness
• Peahen
• Grandmother
• Jewess

Characteristics of Feminine Gender

Beauty, gentleness, and gracefulness are the basic characteristics that are associated with the Feminine Gender. So, the objects that can be personified and have these qualities, can be classified as Feminine Gender. For example:

• The Moon
• The Earth
• Spring
• Autumn
• Nature
• Liberty
• Charity
• Hope
• Peace
• Mercy
• Justice

Objects as Feminine

Objects that have beauty, gentleness, and gracefulness are called Feminine Gender.

• The moon has hidden her face behind a cloud.
• Spring has spread her mantle of green over the earth.
• Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war.
• The ship lost all her boats in the storm.

3. Common Gender

A noun that is used to denote either a male or female, is called Common Gender. For example:

• Parent
• Child
• Friend
• Relation
• Baby
• Monarch
• Neighbor

4. Neuter Gender

Neuter Gender is related to those nouns that are used to denote things that are neither male nor female. It means that Neuter Gender is used to denote things that have no lives (i.e; things without life). For example:

• Book
• Pen
• Room
• Tree
• Fan

In the English language, the Gender of the nouns is determined by the presence or absence of sex and it has nothing to do with the form of a noun.

Formation of Feminine Nouns

Feminine nouns can be formed by following the following methods:

1. By using an entirely different word

Feminine of some Masculine Nouns can be formed by using an entirely different word:

2. Feminine Formation by adding “-ess,” to Masculine Nouns

Feminines can be formed by adding words like “-ess,” to Masculine Nouns.

3. Formation of Feminine by adding “ess” by dropping the vowel of the Masculine ending

Feminine can be formed by adding “-ess” to the Masculine Nouns by dropping the vowel of the Masculine ending.

4. Feminine Formation by adding “-ine, -trix,-a,” etc.” to the Masculine Nouns

Feminines can be formed by adding words like “-ine, -trix, -a, ” to the Masculine Nouns.

5. Feminine formation by adding a word before or after Masculine Nouns

Feminine can be formed by adding a word either after or before a Masculine Noun.