Brighter Grammar 1 - Margaret Macaulay 1987
Lesson Fourteen. Gender of nouns and pronouns
In the story about John and Mary, when we used pronouns instead of nouns, we sometimes used he, him and at other times she, her. Of course you know when to use he, him and when to use she, her. The pronouns he and him are used when they stand for nouns like man or boy; that is, for males. The pronouns she, her are used when they stand for nouns like woman or girl; that is, for females.
In grammar we say that the forms he and she (or him and her) show a difference of gender.
Words that stand for males are masculine gender. So the nouns man, boy, son, king, prince, etc., and the pronouns he and him are masculine gender.
Words that stand for females are feminine gender. The nouns woman, girl, daughter, queen, princess, etc., and the pronouns she and her are feminine gender.
Words that stand for things are neutral gender. (Neutral means neither masculine nor feminine.) So the nouns book, house, river, tree, city, etc., and the pronoun it are neutral gender.
Sometimes the pronouns used for animals are neutral gender.
Where is the cat? It is on the mat.
Where is the dog? It is in the garden.
The pronouns I, me, you, we, us can be either masculine or feminine. The pronouns they and them may be masculine or feminine or neutral.
The boys have just come home. Ask them if they want their dinner. (masculine)
The girls have been to the cinema. Ask them if they enjoyed the picture. (feminine)
The apple-trees are covered with blossom. They will have plenty of apples on them in the autumn. (neutral)
Exercises
A Answer these questions.
1 What is the gender of nouns or pronouns that stand for male persons?
2 What is the gender of nouns or pronouns that stand for female persons?
3 What is the gender of nouns or pronouns that stand for things or animals?
В
1 Write down four nouns in the masculine gender and four in the feminine gender.
2 Write down two pronouns in the feminine gender and two in the masculine gender.
3 Write down ten nouns or pronouns in the neutral gender.
4 Which two pronouns can be masculine, feminine and neutral?
5 Which pronoun is only neutral gender?
C Give the feminine of the following nouns and pronouns.
Example: grandfather (masculine)
Answer: grandmother (feminine)
1 he 6 husband 11 policeman 16 nephew
2 him 7 father 12 actor 17 uncle
3 boy 8 son 13 lion 18 duke
4 king 9 brother 14 gentleman 19 hero
5 prince 10 man 15 Mr 20 tiger
D Give the masculine of the following nouns and pronouns.
1 her 6 woman 11 actress 16 lioness
2 she 7 girl 12 lady 17 princess
3 queen 8 sister 13 niece 18 mother
4 wife 9 heroine 14 duchess 19 tigress
5 daughter 10 policewoman 15 aunt 20 Mrs