Ways of Forming the Feminine of Nouns

We will learn here the different ways of forming the feminine of nouns. There are numerous ways of changing gender. Remember that gender change is possible only between two forms. These are masculine and feminine. 

The rules are-

We can change gender by using an entirely different word; as, boy - girl

By adding syllables; as, God-goddess (here ‘ess’ is a syllable).

By joining a word after or before; as, grandfather - grandmother

Sometimes it is to be seen that feminine words are made through joining ‘a’, ‘ine’, ‘ix’; as, Hero-heroine.

There are three ways of forming the Feminine of Nouns:

A. By a change of words

B. By adding ‘ess’ to the Masculine

(i) The following Feminines are formed by simply adding –ess to the Masculine

(ii) The following Feminines are formed by adding –ess to the Masculine, after omitting the vowel of the last syllable to the Masculine:

(iii) By adding –ess to the Masculine in a less regular way:

C. By using a word after or before

Sometimes feminine nouns are made by adding -ine, -trix, -a, etc.

Special note-

Objects which have no life are often personalized and they are considered as masculine or feminine.

The things which are beauteous and graceful are considered as feminine noun; such as, Moon, river, Nature. For example, a ship is always regarded as a feminine noun.

For example: (Here these bold words are used directly as the opposite of the masculine nouns. These are examples of feminine nouns.)

My mother is a great cook.

I have no sister.

Funi is a girl.

I have a niece.

There is no fee for females in central government employment.

Anima madam is a very gentle lady.

A lady should be honoured.

Jane Austen was an authoress.

Ravan was a son of a giantess

I am the heiress of my family.

Nobody can break a lioness’ heart.

My younger aunt is a good hostess.

For example: (In these examples the bold words are the feminine nouns by placing a word after or before.)

Always love an honest girl-friend.

There are so many peahens in the zoo.

I lost my grandmother.

There was a milk-.woman in my aunt’s house.

Anima Mukherjee will be a landlady.

For example: In these bold words the feminine nouns are made by joining suffixes with the masculine nouns.

Sridevi was a heroine.

Miss Joseph will be an administratrix of civil service.

Rajia was a sultana of sultan dynasty.

English Grammar and Composition

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