Question

Identify the feminine noun(s) from the words given below:
actress, spinster, duke, host, master, bee, goose
(a)actress, spinster, host, bee
(b)actress, spinster, bee, goose
(c)actress, host, bee, goose
(d)actress, duke, host, bee

Answer 1

Hint: The nouns in the given question have an assigned gender in the English language. Go through the given words, understand what they mean and point out for which gender they are generally used.

Complete answer:
Gender is defined as the classifying of a noun or pronoun is feminine in gender, masculine in gender, or neuter in gender. An example of gender is the word ‘man’ which is a masculine noun, and its feminine noun is ‘woman’. There are pre-assigned genders in English, meaning that it is not subject to change. They cannot be changed under any circumstances. However, there is a third gender in English called ‘neuter gender’ which is assigned to inanimate objects that do not possess gender or do not classify to be gendered.

Now, we know what gender refers to in English grammar. Let’s look at the given options
one by one:
(a)actress, spinster, host, bee - The words ‘actress’, ‘bee’, and ‘spinster’ are feminine nouns. However, the word ‘host’ is not a feminine noun. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
(b)actress, spinster, bee, goose - The words ‘actress’, ‘spinster’, ‘bee’, and ‘goose’ are all feminine nouns. All of these words are considered feminine nouns. This is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.
(c)actress, host, bee, goose - The words ‘actress’, ‘bee’, and ‘goose’ are feminine nouns. However, the word ‘host’ is not a feminine noun. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
(d)actress, duke, host, bee - The words ‘actress’ and ‘bee’ are feminine nouns. However, the words ‘duke’ and ‘host’ are not feminine nouns. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note: Many nouns that refer to people's roles and jobs can be used for either a masculine or a feminine subject, like for example cousin, teenager, teacher, doctor, student, friend, colleague. Nouns that end in -ess and -ress often belong to the feminine gender.