Gender of nouns - Easy Learning Grammar
a cow… she or it | a bull… he or it |
a girl… she | a boy… he |
- He found his book.
- He had been looking for it.
- She found her book.
- She had been looking for it.
- I just saw a mouse. It was running across the room.
- The spider was spinning its web.
- The beetle crawled into its hole.
- The baby threw down its rattle.
- I’ve got a new boat; she’s a real beauty.
- Barry saw Linda. He called out to her that he had found her book.
- Marcia saw Paul. She called out to him that she had found his book.
- Madeleine saw Kim. She said ‘Hello’ to her.
- The truth will emerge. It always does.
- Some nouns denoting people have the same form for masculine and feminine. Nouns used for a group, e.g. government or team, have common or neuter gender, even when we know that the group is made up exclusively of male or female members.
- The government has changed its policy.
- The team has won its first medal at a major championship.
- a driver…he/she
- the cook…he/she
- doctor…he/she
- Each student must apply to his or her tutor for an extension.
- Everyone must apply to their tutor for an extension.
- Someone has left their coat in my room.
horse | mare | stallion | gelding |
– | cow | bull | steer |
sheep | ewe | ram | – |
parent | mother | father |
child | daughter | son |
- Many nouns denoting an occupation have no explicit gender.
engineer | doctor | programmer |
mechanic | lawyer | driver |
- Call your bank manager today.
- Sue is manageress of a hairdressing salon.
- Actors from all over the UK attended the ceremony.
- Here in the studio to talk about her new book is actress Mary Farrell.
- J.K. Rowling is a highly successful author.
- Judi Dench is one of our finest actors.
- Michelle Stewart has been promoted to Branch Manager.
the chairman | the chairperson | the chair |
- Would you prefer to see a woman doctor?
- Male staff should use locker room B.
If we are discussing a country from an emotional, economic, or political viewpoint we sometimes use feminine gender.
PreviousNext - Poland has made steady progress restructuring her economy.