144 gender of nouns

gender of nouns
The specialized terms used to name male, female and neutered animals show a number of gender differences.

r4s

outto herthlthehodfound her book. Marcia saw Paul. She called outto himthat she hId found his book. Madeleine saw Kim. She said'Hello'to her.
Borry saw Linda. He called

The pronouns and possessive determiners used to referto common or neuter nouns are: it, its.

norse sheep
relationships.

, m1re

cow
ewe

stollion bull
rom

gelding
steer

Thetruth will emerge. ft always does.

Nouns denoting inanimate objects and abstract notions are also neuter'

Cender differences are also shown in the nouns that indicate

parent

Some nouns denoting people have the same form for masculine and feminine. Nouns used for a group, e.g. government or teom, have common or neuter gender, even when we know that the group is made up exclusively of male orfemale members.
The gov er n ment h as ch a n ged its p oli cy' The team has won its first medol at a maior championship '

child

motner daughter

fother
son

MdrlV nouns denoting an occupation have no explicit gender.

engtneer mechanic

doctor lawyer

progr0mmer driver

Some occupations and professions have a special feminine form for

With some nouns of common gender it might be possible to specify the gender if we had sufficient information. But if we do not have this knowledge, the choice of pronoun or possessive determiner becomes
a problem.
o driver...he/she

the noun.
Call your bank manager today.
Sue is manageress of a hairdressing salon.

Here in the studio to

the cook...he/she

Authors from all over the UK attended the ceremony. tllk about her new book is authoress Mory Farrell.

doctor...he/she

Many people preferto avoid these forms, regarding the distinction as

As a way around this problem, in informal and spoken English, their is sometimes used after a singular noun or an indefinite pronoun. See p. 2o2. Many people consider this grammatically unacceptable, but it is widely used to avoid repetitions of his or her ar him or her. Each student must apply to his or her tutor Everyone must apply to their tutor for an extension. Someone has lefttheir coot in my room ' for an extension.
u

nnecessary.
J.K. Rowling is a highly successfulauthor. Judi Dench is one of ourflnest octors.

Michelle Stewart has been promoted to Branch Manager.