Gender in English Grammar: Definition, Types, Rules and Examples

Have you ever noticed that we use “he” for a boy and “she” for a girl? This is called gender in English grammar. Understanding gender helps us identify whether a noun refers to a male, a female, a non-living thing, or a person of any gender.

In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of gender in English grammar, its different types, how pronouns are used, along with simple examples and useful tips to help you understand the topic easily.

Table of Contents 

• What Is Gender in English Grammar?
• Types of Gender in English Grammar
• How Gender Affects Pronouns
• Are There Any Masculine and Feminine Words in English?
• Tips for Using Gender in English
• Examples of Gender in English Grammar

What Is Gender in English Grammar?

In English grammar, gender refers to the classification of nouns and pronouns as masculine, feminine, common, or neuter. It helps identify whether a person, animal, or thing is male, female, both, or non-living.

For example:

• Boy is a masculine noun.

• Girl is a feminine noun.

• Teacher is a common gender noun.

• 'Table' is a neuter noun.

Understanding gender helps you use the correct pronouns such as he, she, it, and they. Learning about gender is important because it helps:

• Use correct pronouns in sentences

• Improve grammar and sentence clarity

• Avoid confusion in communication

• Build better speaking and writing skills

• Understand people, animals, and objects correctly

Types of Gender in English Grammar

There are four types of gender in English grammar.

• Masculine Gender

• Feminine Gender

• Common Gender

• Neuter Gender

Now let’s learn them in detail.

Masculine Gender

'Masculine gender' refers to nouns that denote male persons or animals.

Examples:

• Man

• Boy

• King

• Father

• Son

• Brother

• Lion

• Tiger

• Cock

• Bull 
  
  

Feminine Gender

'Feminine gender' refers to nouns that denote female persons or animals.

Examples: 

• Woman

• Girl

• Queen

• Mother

• Daughter

• Sister

• Lioness

• Tigress

• Mare

• Hen

• Cow 
  
  

Common Gender

'Common gender' refers to nouns that can refer to either a male or a female. The word itself does not tell whether the person is male or female.

Examples:

• Teacher

• Student

• Doctor

• Friend

• Parent

• Bird

• Fish

• Deer

• Child

• Cousin 
  
  

Neuter Gender

'Neuter gender' refers to nouns that are neither male nor female, usually objects, places, concepts, or ideas.

Examples:

• Table

• Chair

• Book

• Pen

• Car

• Mountain

• River

• Cloud

• Stone

• Box 
  
  

How Gender Affects Pronouns

In English grammar, gender helps us choose the correct pronouns. Pronouns such as ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, and ‘they’ are used based on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, common, or neuter. 

 

Are There Any Masculine and Feminine Words in English?

Yes, there are masculine and feminine words in English. But they are only for nouns referring to people and animals. Here are common masculine and feminine word pairs in English:

Tips for Using Gender in English

Here are some helpful tips for using gender correctly in English grammar:

• Learn Common Gender Pairs: Practise masculine and feminine word pairs regularly.

• Use Correct Pronouns: Always match pronouns with the noun's gender.

• Prefer Gender-Neutral Words: Use inclusive words whenever possible.

• Read and Practice Daily: Reading stories and articles helps improve grammar naturally.

• Avoid Guessing Gender: Some nouns, like 'teacher' or 'doctor', can refer to anyone.

Examples of Gender in English Grammar

Here are a few examples of gender in English grammar: