Page 25 - Mastermind Grammar-4

In sentence (3), book and table are the names of things without life. They

are therefore said to be of the neuter gender . (Neuter gender means
neither gender.)

A noun that is the name of a thing without life is said to be of the neuter

gender; as desk, chair, table, knife, pen, etc.

In sentence (4), child and friend can be used for both males and females.
They are therefore said to be of the common gender .

A noun that is the name of an animal or person that neither male nor

female is said to be of the common gender; as parent (father or mother),
child (boy or girl), friend (male or female), etc.

How to form Feminines of Nouns

The following nouns form their feminine by adding -ess to the masculine; as

Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine

lion lioness actor actress emperor empress

shepherd shepherdess god goddess hunter huntress

prince princess tiger tigress waiter waitress

Note The feminine of hero is heroine .

Some feminine nouns are formed by a change of word; as

Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine

boy girl gentleman lady nephew niece

brother sister horse mare son daughter

bull cow husband wife sir madam

cock hen king queen uncle aunt

father mother man woman widower widow

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