There are three ways of forming feminine nouns. 


1) By using an entirely different word. 

Example:

Masculine Feminine            Masculine Feminine

boy  → girl                   father â†’ mother

brother â†’ sister             Gentlemen â†’ lady

son â†’ daughter             wizard â†’ witch

horse â†’ mare                dog→  bitch

drone â†’ bee                   man â†’ woman 

bull (ox) â†’ cow               cock â†’ hen 

drake â†’ duck                 sir â†’ madam


2). By adding -ess,  -ine, -trix, -a etc.

Example:

Masculine Feminine            Masculine Feminine

author â†’ authoress            host â†’ hostess 

actor â†’ actress                   heir â†’ heiress

prince â†’ princess                lion â†’ lioness 

hero â†’ heroine                    Sultan â†’ Sultana 

fox â†’ vixen                        executor → executrix


Sometimes -ess is added by dropping the ending vowel.

Example:

Masculine Feminine            Masculine Feminine

emperor → empress             murderer → murderess

Master â†’ mistress               waiter → waitress 

hunter â†’ huntress               tiger â†’ tigress


3) by placing words before or after:


Example:

Masculine         Feminine  

Grandfather â†’ Grandmother 

Great uncle â†’ Great aunt 

milkman  â†’ milkwoman 

peacock â†’ peahen 

salesman â†’ saleswoman


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Easy English Grammar Notes

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