Thursday, June 3, 2010

NOUN GENDER

NOUN GENDER

In general there is no distinction between masculine, feminine and neuter in English nouns. However, gender is sometimes shown by different forms or different words.

Examples:

Different words:

Masculine Feminine

man
father
uncle
boy
husband

woman
mother
aunt
girl
wife

Different forms:

Masculine Feminine

actor
prince
hero
waiter
widower

actress
princess
heroine
waitress
widow

Some nouns can be used for either a masculine or a feminine subject:

Examples:

cousin

teenager

teacher

doctor

cook

student

parent

friend

relation

colleague

partner

leader

    • Mary is a doctor. She is a doctor
    • Peter is a doctor. He is a doctor.
    • Arthur is my cousin. He is my cousin.
    • Jane is my cousin. She is my cousin.

It is possible to make the distinction by adding the words 'male' or 'female'.

Example:

  • a female student; a male cousin

For professions, we can add the word 'woman'

Example: a woman doctor; a woman journalist.

In some cases nouns describing things are given gender.

Examples:

  • I love my car. She (the car) is my greatest passion.
  • France is popular with her (France's) neighbours at the moment.
  • I travelled from England to New York on the Queen Elizabeth, she (the Queen Elizabeth) is a great ship

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