A noun: gender is defined by the classification of living beings and things into categories of masculine gender, feminine gender, common gender, or neuter gender based on sex or the absence of it.
What is a Noun: Gender?
Living beings are of either the male or the female sex. Now compare the following pairs of words:
- Boy, girl
- Man, woman
- Husband, wife
- Lion, lioness
Here the first word of each pair is the name of a male animal. The second word of each pair is the name of a female animal. A noun that denotes a male animal is said to be of the masculine gender. A noun that denotes a female animal is said to be of the feminine gender.
What are the Different Types of Noun Gender?
Nouns are categorized into four distinct types based on gender rules:
| Gender Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Gender | Denotes a male animal | Boy, man, husband, lion |
| Feminine Gender | Denotes a female animal | Girl, woman, wife, lioness |
| Common Gender | Denotes either a male or a female | Parent, child, friend, servant, thief, enemy, cousin, student, baby, teacher, writer |
| Neuter Gender | Denotes a thing that is neither male nor female | Book, pen, room, house, tree |
How Does Personification Affect Noun Gender?
Note that inanimate objects are often personified, that is, spoken of as if they were living beings. We then regard them as males or females.
When is the Masculine Gender Applied to Lifeless Objects?
The masculine gender is often applied to lifeless objects known for strength or violence. Examples are: sun, summer, winter, time, death etc.
When is the Feminine Gender Applied to Lifeless Objects?
The feminine gender is often applied to lifeless objects known for beauty or gracefulness. Examples are: moon, earth, spring, autumn, nature, liberty, justice, peace, mercy, hope etc.
Key Takeaways
- Gender in modern English is based on sex or the absence of it rather than word form.
- Nouns are divided into masculine, feminine, common, and neuter genders.
- Lifeless objects can be personified as masculine (strength/violence) or feminine (beauty/gracefulness).
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of noun gender by writing your answers in the comments below:
- What gender is the noun "student"?
- Is the personified noun "sun" treated as masculine or feminine?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a common gender noun?
A noun that denotes either a male or a female is said to be of the common gender, such as parent, child, friend, and teacher.
What is a neuter gender noun?
A noun that denotes a thing that is neither male nor female is said to be of the neuter gender, such as a book, pen, or house.
How does personification change gender rules for lifeless objects?
Lifeless objects are often spoken of as living beings through personification; objects known for strength or violence take the masculine gender, while those known for beauty or gracefulness take the feminine gender.