Feminine noun. Noun

The most characteristic morphological feature of a noun is the category of gender. All nouns, with a few exceptions, belong to one of three genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter.

In addition, among the words ending in -а (-я), there are nouns with the meaning of a person, which can be assigned either to the masculine or to the feminine, depending on gender: This master is a talented self-taught and This weaver is a talented self-taught. These words belong to the so-called common gender (bully, touchy, slut, razinya, dormouse, crybaby, etc.).

Morphologically, the gender of nouns is determined by the nature of the stem and ending. Syntactically, the gender of a noun is determined by the form of the adjective agreed with it: green bush, green grass, green plant.

Masculine nouns include: all nouns with a stem in -i and a solid consonant (there can also be words in -zh and -sh female) with a null ending in the nominative singular; nouns with a base in a soft consonant, as well as in -zh and -sh, having the ending -а (-я) in the genitive case of the singular; some animate nouns ending in -а (-я); nouns with the suffix -ushk-, -ishk-, -ish- and endings -я, -о, -е, formed from masculine nouns: our boy, a small vozishko; ... A great writer will come out of Gorky (Ch.); the words apprentice (derived from the word master), path also belong to the masculine gender.

Feminine nouns include: most of the words with the ending -а (-я) in the nominative singular; nouns with a stem in a soft consonant and in -zh, -sh, in which the ending in the genitive case of the singular is -i (an exception is the word way - masculine).

The nouns of the middle gender include: nouns with the ending -о (-е) in the nominative singular; ten words per -mya: name, time, tribe, banner, burden, seed, stirrup, crown, flame and udder; word child.

General nouns include nouns (with the meaning of a person) in -а (-я): grump, bully, fidget, ignoramus, touchy, miser, disheveled, etc. The gender of these nouns is determined depending on their specific use in speech. So, if words of the general gender are used to refer to males, they act as a masculine noun: "He is such a fidget, this restless boy," the mother complained. If words of the general gender are used to refer to females, then they act as feminine nouns: What a naughty one you are! Most of these words serve as a means of expressive characterization. They are used mainly in colloquial style speech.

Words with formal masculine characteristics (names of persons by profession, position, occupation), which are now widely used also for naming females, should not be mixed with nouns of the general gender. These words did not become grammatically common words, but remained masculine words: the new judge Ivanova, the famous sculptor Mukhina, Nikolaeva-Tereshkova - a woman cosmonaut. Many of these words do not have parallel feminine forms at all: associate professor, teacher, agronomist, master, candidate of science, etc. Some words have a parallel feminine form, but are used to refer to the wife of a person of the corresponding profession or rank: professor, director, colonel and etc. The same parallel formations can designate a female person by profession and occupation (often used with a contemptuous connotation). They are used only in colloquial, and sometimes in colloquial styles of speech (doctor, doctor, agronomist, conductor, cashier, librarian, etc.).

A few words denoting a profession have only feminine forms: manicurist, typist (working on a typewriter), ballerina. There are no masculine correlative words for these nouns. Instead of the words typist, ballerina, milkmaid, descriptive phrases are used to refer to males: an employee typing on a typewriter; ballet dancer; machine milking master, etc.

Nouns used only in plural, do not have a gender category (scissors, tongs). In determining the gender of some nouns (comparatively few), fluctuations are sometimes observed. So, individual nouns, usually used in the masculine form, are sometimes used in the feminine form: shoe - shoe (in common speech), rail - rail (in colloquial speech), banknote - banknote, gelatin - gelatin (in professional speech ) and others. For the present, masculine forms are more characteristic.

Genus category in individual words(usually of a foreign language origin) may vary. For example, a number of words used in the modern general literary language as masculine nouns were previously used in the feminine form: black piano - black piano, green poplar - green poplar (see M.Yu. Lermontov: Behind the high poplar I see there window), a sanatorium - a sanatorium, etc. (see A.S. Novikov-Priboy: Fights with a storm on the high seas can correct anyone better than any sanatorium).

Some nouns in the modern general literary language are used as feminine nouns, while in other styles of speech they can be used in masculine. Sometimes the masculine forms are not a stylistic parallel form, but are more or less obsolete. This includes, for example, such nouns as shoe - shoe, arabesque - arabesque, thick veil - thick veil, old corn - old corn, cataract - cataract, clearing - clearing, etc. Individual nouns can have parallel forms of feminine and masculine, semantically and stylistically indistinguishable: shutter - shutter, stack - stack, giraffe - giraffe. Finally, some indeclinable nouns commonly used in modern language as neuter nouns, used to allow a masculine form ( obsolete forms): fluffy boa - fluffy boa (see A.S. Pushkin: He is happy if she puts a fluffy boa on her shoulder); my cocoa (see I.S. Turgenev: It's time for me to drink my cocoa), etc.

By existing rules all indeclinable nouns of foreign origin, denoting inanimate objects, most often belong to the middle gender: communiqué, taxi, metro, cinema, sconce, scarf, cocoa, etc. Other genders: coffee (m. R.), sirocco (m. R. .), avenue (zh. R.), Gobi (zh. R.), kohlrabi (zh. R.), etc. Indeclinable animate nouns, as a rule, belong to the masculine gender: kangaroo, chimpanzee, etc. However, if the word is used to name female animals, then it acts as a feminine noun: a kangaroo (chimpanzee) was feeding a cub. Indeclinable nouns denoting men are masculine: attache, rentier, dandy; denoting women - to the feminine: lady, madam, miss, etc.

Genus indeclinable nouns, which are foreign geographical names (names of cities, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc.), is determined by correlating it with the genus of that common noun, whose name is a proper name: green Batumi (city), stormy Mississippi (river), distant Capri (island), modern Helsinki (city), etc. The gender of nouns, which are the names of newspapers, magazines, collections, etc., is also determined: "Humanite" (newspaper) issued a refutation; "Weltbühne" (magazine) published an article, and so on.

Genus - grammatical category, inherent different parts speeches in singular and consisting in the distribution of words into three classes, traditionally correlated with gender characteristics or their absence.

There are three kinds of nouns in Russian:

Male (he) Masculine nouns in the singular nominative case have endings -and I, and zero (dad, uncle, knife, table, hawk).

Female (she) Feminine nouns in the singular nominative case have the endings - and I, and zero (wife, nanny, night, glory, desert).

Medium (it) Neutral nouns in the singular nominative case have endings -o, -e (swamp, gold, sun, lake, jam).

There is also a class of words generic, which, depending on the context, can be used both in male and in feminine (bore, sissy, crybaby, clever, greedy).

Definition of noun gender

To determine the feminine gender of inanimate nouns, the ending looks. For animate nouns the defining feature is that they belong to female beings ( girl, cat). In order not to confuse feminine and masculine nouns at the end, you need to substitute the pronoun “she, mine” to check. For example, a song (she, mine).

The masculine gender of nouns is also determined by the end of the initial form. In order not to confuse the gender of nouns ending in soft sign, also substitute to check the pronoun "he, mine" ( stump, day).

Neutral nouns are determined by the endings of the initial form and by substituting the pronouns "it, mine" ( field, window). Please note that the group of inflected nouns ending in -my also belongs to the neuter gender ( tribe, seed etc.). There are almost no animate nouns among neuter gender nouns, their number is very small ( child, being, animal).

Among nouns, there are several special groups, the definition of gender in which is difficult. These include nouns of the general gender, as well as indeclinable and compound words.

Correlate the meanings of nouns of the general gender with their belonging to animate objects of the female or male sex. For example, slut girl(feminine), smart boy (masculine). Common nouns are those that denote the qualities of people ( glutton, ignoramus, crybaby) or the name of persons by position, profession, occupation ( architect Petrov - architect Petrov).

It must be taken into account that the gender of indeclinable nouns is associated with their animate / inanimate, specific / generic concept. For animate indeclinable nouns, determine gender by gender (monsieur, miss). Nouns that give names to animals, birds, are masculine (pony, kangaroo, cockatoo). The inanimate are usually neuter ( coat, muffler). Exceptions are words whose gender is determined by association with generic names: kohlrabi - cabbage(feminine), Hindi - language(masculine), etc.

In order to determine the gender of indeclinable proper nouns denoting geographical names, it is necessary to choose a generic concept ( lake, city, river, desert etc.). For example, city ​​of Rio de Janeiro(masculine) gobi desert(feminine).

The type of abbreviations is determined by the type of the leading word of the “deciphered” phrase: UN - United Nations, the leading word is “organization” (feminine).

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For correct use words need to understand what kind they are. Here is coffee, for example, the middle masculine gender? If the average, then you need to say: "My coffee is cold." And if male - "My coffee is cold." How not to pass for an illiterate person, defining the middle gender?

What are neuter words? Examples

The division of parts of speech by gender (feminine, neuter and masculine) is inherent not only in the Russian language. Determines whether the ending of a word belongs to the neuter gender. Neutral nouns are usually inanimate, although there are exceptions:

• creature,
• animal,
• monster,
• deity,
• child,
• monster,
• person (official).

If the word came from another language, has an ending in a vowel, is inanimate and, according to established tradition, does not decline, it is considered neuter.

Neutral nouns answer the question: whose is it? If you can say about a word: “It is mine,” then this is a neuter noun. There are two types of endings for such words:

1. -o, -e, -e, -e. These are, for example, such words: pots, lake, muffler, gun, understanding.
2. -me. For example, stirrup, crown, name.

Words of the middle gender can be not only nouns, but also adjectives, numerals and pronouns.

Coffee - it or he?

It seems that the word "coffee" does not obey the rule: it ends in "e", but it is not neuter, but masculine. exception? Not really. The fact is that the word, along with the drink, came to Russia with Peter the Great. Tea has long been known, and by analogy with this drink, the novelty was called "coffee". Then no one doubted that the word is masculine. His diminutive version of "coffee" is now beyond doubt.

Over time, the word "coffee" became obsolete, replaced by "coffee". The word became indeclinable. And here a paradox arose. According to the rules, this word should have a neuter gender. This is why, intuitively, people began to use "coffee" as a neuter word. There was a process that translated the word "metro" from the masculine to the middle. You probably remember Utyosov's song: "But the subway flashed with oak railings..."

Why don't linguists recognize coffee as neuter? Because this word has a special meaning. Its use in the middle gender contradicts the literary tradition, therefore it is perceived as illiterate. Coffee is on the list of words for which literate Russian speakers are fighting. These are the words contract, calls, blinds, cottage cheese, provision and several others.

And although since 2002 you can say “my coffee” in colloquial speech, only the masculine gender is recognized in writing.

declination

Changing words by case is called declension. Words of the middle gender with an ending can be declined. For neuter nouns there are following rules(see table).

Common Mistakes

A typical mistake was the incorrect definition of the gender of some words. Due to the ending "o", which is pronounced as "a" in the unstressed version, some inflect such words in the feminine form. Example:

• The buffet sells pies with jammy, manga and dried apricots.
• We saw the natives living in bungalow.
• neighbors bought piano.

The correct options would be to use the highlighted words in the form of the middle gender. That is: with jam, with mango, in a bungalow, they bought a piano.

The second common mistake is trying to change indeclinable nouns in cases. Not only children get confused, and incredible words of feminine, masculine, neuter gender appear.

Words that do not change by case. Examples

In addition to inflected, there are also neuter words that are invariable in cases:

• arpeggio,
• video,
• graffiti,
• dragee,
• neckline,
• coupe,
• Cafe,
• mango,
• mini,
• neutrino,
• penalty,
• piano,
• rendezvous,
• solo,
• trio,
• Taxi,
• fuete,
• facsimile.

This list is far from complete. Therefore, if you have any difficulties, it is better to refer to dictionaries.

How to remember words without endings: a game

In order not to make mistakes in declension, there is a simple and fun way checks. Try to put these words in several different cases. If it turns out funny and ridiculous, then this word does not decline in cases.

• Kangaroo put on pince-nez (wrong, there is no such word, you need to put “pince-nez”).
• To get to the cafe, I took a taxi (it would be correct: "taxi").
• We gorged ourselves on creme brulee, blancmange and jelly beans (that's right: "creme brulee, blancmange and jelly beans").
• Let's meet near the depot and go to watch the film "Dynama" (you need: "near the depot, the movie" Dynamo ").
• I am dissatisfied with a passe-partout with a photo and a panel (it would be competently like this: “passe-partout with a photo and a panel”).

Play this game with your kids. It is simple, the main thing is not to forget that these words do not decline in cases. Regular games with words develop intelligence and replenish vocabulary. Soon the child will feel how to build a phrase and use words, and will not make mistakes.

The gender of nouns is a grammatical category, manifested in the ability to combine with specific forms of agreed words. The category of gender can be expressed semantically (that is, in meaning, only for animate nouns), grammatically and syntactically. Semantically, all nouns are masculine, feminine, and neuter. Words indicating animals and males are masculine (brother, grandfather, student, goose, rooster, horse); nouns that name animals and females (sister, grandmother, student, goose, chicken, horse) - to the feminine gender; animals and persons, regardless of gender (monster, monster, person (person), child) - to the middle gender.

The gender of nouns is grammatically expressed using the ending in the nominative case. This category of gender is characteristic of both animate and inanimate inflected nouns. In this case, in addition to the 3 main genera, a common genus is also distinguished. The differences between them are presented in the table:

Syntactically, the gender of nouns can be determined by the form of the agreed word, which depends on the noun. So, participles, adjectives, consistent with masculine nouns, end in -y, -y, -oy ( beautiful garden, singing boy, fighting soldier); with feminine nouns - on -aya, -aya ( beautiful street, summer time); with neuter nouns - into -th, -ee ( beautiful sky, winter morning).

Also, the gender of nouns is determined by the ending of the predicate, expressed by the verb in the past tense in the subjunctive or indicative mood, or participle or Masculine - the predicate has null ending(the rain has passed, the plan has been completed); feminine - ending -a (work completed, the moon has risen); neuter - ending -o (letter received, the sun has risen).

There are also Most of them belong to the middle gender (depot, interview and all substantiated indeclinable nouns like "hello", "cheers", "yes", "tomorrow", "I don't want to"). Exceptions are the following cases:

Ha (hectare), coffee, poppies, penalties, suluguni, sirocco, ecu, tornado, shimmy, as well as the names of languages ​​(Bengali, Urdu, Suomi, Pashto, Hindi) - masculine;

Avenue, bere, salami, kohlrabi are feminine.

The gender of indeclinable nouns, such as newspapers, magazines, can be determined by the gender of the noun with the meaning of the generic concept (full-flowing Japanese (city) Tokyo, wide (river) Mississippi, published (newspaper) "Times"). The gender of abbreviations must be determined by the gender of the main word (MGU - masculine - Moscow State University; UN - feminine - United Nations; CIS - neuter gender - Commonwealth independent states). It is impossible to establish the gender of nouns that are not used in the singular, but only in the plural, since they do not have a gender category (trousers, pitchforks, pasta, mangers).