Noun-Gender in English

The Noun-Gender tells us about the sex of the noun.

In Grammar-Nouns, there are FOUR GENDERS.

1. MASCULINE GENDER:

A noun is Masculine if it refers to a male character or member of a species.

Man, lion, hero, boy, king, horse and actor are nouns of masculine gender.

Example:

• A boy is playing in the play-ground.

• Hero of the movie is not a native of this country.

In these sentences the words “boy” and “hero” are masculine-gender nouns.



2. FEMININE GENDER:

A noun is Feminine if it refers to a female member of a species.

Woman, lioness, heroine, girl, mare, niece, empress, cow and actress are few of the feminine-gender nouns that we use.

Example:

• A girl is playing in the play-ground.

• Heroine of the movie is not a native of this country.

In these sentences the words “girl” and “heroine” are feminine-gender nouns.



3. COMMON GENDER:

A noun is a Common gender if it refers to a member of species which can be a male or a female.

Child, student, friend, applicant, candidate, servant, member,

parliamentarian and leader are few of the common-gender nouns.

Example:

• A child is playing in the play-ground.

• A Parliamentarian should have command over his language.

In these sentences the words, “child” and “parliamentarian” are nouns of common gender.

4. NEUTER GENDER:

A noun is a neuter gender if it refers to a member of a species which is neither a male nor a female.

Normally nouns referring to lifeless objects are in neuter nouns.

Chair, table, tree, star, mountain, street, book, car, school,
paper, pencil and computer are few of the neuter nouns which we use regularly.

Example:

• Computer has brought about drastic changes in our lives.
• Tree is cleansing the air.
• Stars are not visible in the day-time.
• Books are our best friends.

In these sentences the words, “computer”, “tree”, “stars” and “books” are the neuter-gender nouns.

TRY TO IDENTIFY THE WORDS IF THEY ARE MASCULINE, FEMININE, NEUTER, OR COMMON GENDER NOUN

1. WAITRESS

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

2. LIONESS

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common


3. MURDERER

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common
4. MISTER

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common
5. BUTLER

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common
6. STEWARD

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common
7. SPINSTER

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

8. WIZARD

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

9. KNIGHT

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

10. LORD

a. Masculine b. Feminine   c. Neuter d. Common

11. STEP SISTER

a. Masculine b. Feminine   c. Neuter d. Common

12. CHEF

a. Masculine b. Feminine   c. Neuter d. Common

13. BRIDE

a. Masculine b. Feminine   c. Neuter d. Common

14. FIANCEE

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

15. AUTHOR

a. Masculine b. Feminine c. Neuter d. Common

Gender of Nouns in Spanish

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Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.

el profesor
la profesora

el doctor
la doctora

el señor
la señora

Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine.
These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).

el estudiante
la estudiante

el pianista
la pianista

el artista
la artista

Nouns that end in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

la televisión

la decisión

la conversación

la habitación

la ciudad

la universidad

la dificultad

la libertad

la actitud

la gratitud

Some nouns that end in -a are masculine.

el problema

el telegrama

el programa

el mapa

el sistema

el poema

el día

el tema

el clima

el idioma

el sofá

el planeta

Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine.

el telegrama
el programa
el problema
el sistema
el poema
el idioma
el clima
el tema

Note: A few nouns that end in -ma are feminine, such as la cama and la pluma.



Four of the nouns that end in -a are simply exceptions and must be memorized.

el día

el mapa

el planeta

el sofá

A few nouns that end in -o are feminine.

la mano
la radio

Review of the rules:

• Many nouns that denote living things have both a masculine and a feminine form.
• Most nouns that end in -o are masculine.
• Most nouns that end in -a are feminine.
• Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.
• Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine. These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).
• Nouns that end in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.
• Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine.
• A few nouns that end in -o are feminine
  

A general rule is:



You use UN with words that end in
L-O-N-E-R-S



You use UNA with words that end in D-IÓN-Z-A

Gender of Nouns Quiz

A. Find the correct answer & translate

1. Which word is masculine?

el día
la gratitud
la decisión
la certidumbre



2. Which word is feminine?
el poema
el sofá
la radio
el tema



3. ¿Cuál es la palabra masculina?
la universidad
la televisión
la libertad
el mapa



4. ¿Cuál es la palabra femenina?
el número
el teléfono
el abuelo
la mano



5. ¿Cuál es la palabra masculina?
la mañana
la palabra
el clima
la tarea



6. ¿Cuál es la palabra masculina?
la chica
la abuela
el idioma
la amiga



7. ¿Cuál es la palabra masculina?
la dificultad
la computadora
el sistema
la fiesta



8. ¿Cuál es la palabra femenina?
el sistema
el tema
el planeta
la novia

B. Choose between masculine or feminine & transalte

9. televisión
is a masculine word
is a feminine word



10. mano
es una palabra masculina
es una palabra femenina



11. ciudad
es una palabra masculina
es una palabra femenina



12. problema
es una palabra masculina
es una palabra femenina



13. gratitud
es una palabra masculina
es una palabra femenina



14. radio
es una palabra masculina
es una palabra femenina

C. Write the correct letter & translate

15. el dí



16. la man



17. el problem



18. el idiom



19. el tem



20. el poem

Irregular Commands ("tú")

The following eight verbs have irregular familiar commands in the affirmative:

decir - di	salir - sal
hacer - haz	ser - sé
ir - ve	tener - ten
poner - pon	venir - ven

Note that these irregularities only occur with affirmative tú commands. As with all other verbs, to form negative informal commands with these verbs, use the "tú" form of the present subjunctive.

Di la verdad.

(Tell the truth.)

No digas mentiras.

(Don't tell lies.)

Haz tu tarea.

(Do your homework.)

No hagas eso.

(Don't do that.)

Let's add another flashcard for the irregular tú commands:

Complete List

Irregular Informal (tú) Commands (Imperative)
(Affirmative Only)

decir - di	salir - sal
hacer - haz	ser - sé
ir - ve	tener - ten
poner - pon	venir - ven

Informal Commands (tu)

Informal Commands (tu)

In the previous lesson, you learned that commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. This is often referred to as the "imperative" form of the verb.

Compra (tú) el anillo.
(You) Buy the ring.

Escribe (tú) la tarea.
(You) Do the homework.

Compra (tú) los libros.
(You) Buy the books.

Come (tú) la patata.
(You) Eat the potato.

Remember that Spanish has both a formal and an informal style of speech (tú/Ud.). This distinction applies to commands.

Compre Ud. el anillo.
Buy the ring. (formal)

Compra (tú) los dulces.
Buy the candy. (familiar)

Remember, formal speech is generally used to be polite or to express respect. Informal, or familiar, speech is used among friends, coworkers, relatives, or when addressing a child.



The affirmative informal (tú) commands are formed the same way as the present indicative Ud. form:

(hablar - ar + a = habla)
(comer - er + e = come)
(escribir - ir + e = escribe)

Be sure to note that the "tú" commands use the usted form, not the tú form!



The following examples of commands use three regular verbs: hablar, comer, and escribir.

Habla (tú) más lentamente.
(You) Speak more slowly.

Come (tú) la cena.
(You) Eat the dinner.

Escribe (tú) la carta.
(You) Write the letter.

Note that the negative informal commands use the tú form of the present subjunctive.

No cuentes tus beneficios.
Don't count your blessings.

No hables más lentamente.
Don't speak more slowly.

Be sure to note that this is the tú form!



Compare the affirmative informal (tú) commands with the negative informal (tú) commands:

Cuenta tus beneficios.

Count your blessings.

No cuentes tus beneficios.

Don't count your blessings.

Habla más lentamente.

Speak more slowly.

No hables más lentamente.

Don't speak more slowly.

Also note that the subject pronoun tú is not normally used with imperative form.

Habla más lentamente.
(You) Speak more slowly.

Come la cena.
(You) Eat the dinner.

Escribe la carta.
(You) Write the letter.

Formal Commands

Commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. This is often referred to as the "imperative" form of the verb.

Compre Ud. el anillo.

(You) Buy the ring.

Haga Ud. la tarea.

(You) Do the homework.

Compren Uds. los libros.

(You-all) Buy the books.

Hagan Uds. el trabajo.

(You-all) Do the work.

By now, you are well acquainted with the fact that Spanish has both a formal and an informal style of speech (tú / Ud.). This distinction applies to commands.

Compre Ud. el anillo.

Buy the ring. (formal)

Compra (tú) los dulces.

Buy the candy. (familiar)

Informal, or familiar, speech is used among friends, coworkers, relatives, or when addressing a child. Formal speech is generally used to be polite or to express respect. For that reason, the formal commands are often referred to as polite commands.



The formal commands are formed the same way as the present subjunctive:

1. Start with the yo form of the present indicative.
2. Then drop the -o ending.
3. Finally, add the following endings:
   

-ar verbs:
-e (for Ud.), -en (for Uds.)

-er and -ir verbs:
-a (for Ud.), -an (for Uds.)

The following examples of formal commands use three regular verbs: hablar, comer, and escribir.

Hable Ud. más lentamente.
Hablen Uds. más lentamente.
Speak more slowly.

Coma Ud. la cena.
Coman Uds. la cena.
Eat the dinner.

Escriba Ud. la carta.
Escriban Uds. la carta.
Write the letter.

Remember, if the first person singular (yo) form is irregular, that irregularity is carried over into the formation of the formal command.

Tengan Uds. un buen viaje. (yo tengo)

Have a good trip.

Traiga Ud. el dinero. (yo traigo)

Bring the money.

Venga Ud. conmigo. (yo vengo)

Come with me.

This also applies to stem-changing verbs.

Cuente Ud. sus beneficios. (yo cuento)

Count your blessings.

Vuelvan Uds. pronto. (yo vuelvo)

Return quickly.

Pida dinero. (yo pido)

Ask for money.

As with the present subjunctive, the following verbs are irregular:

dar
dé Ud.
den Uds.

estar
esté Ud.
estén Uds.

ir
vaya Ud.
vayan Uds.

ser
sea Ud.
sean Uds.

saber
sepa Ud.
sepan Uds.

Note that affirmative and negative commands use the same verb forms.

Hable Ud.

Speak.

No hable Ud.

Don't speak.

Coma Ud.

Eat.

No coma Ud.

Don't eat.

Escriba Ud.

Write.

No escriba Ud.

Don't write.

Also note that the subject pronouns Ud. and Uds. may or may not be used. Using them adds a degree of formality or politeness to the command.

Hable.

Speak.

Hable Ud.

Speak (sir). (more respectful)

Coma.

Eat.

Coma Ud.

Eat (sir). (more polite)

Formation of Adverbs

Adverbs are words that describe, or modify, verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

He ran quickly.
("quickly" describes how he "ran")

She spoke more slowly than he.
("slowly" describes how she "spoke")
("more" modifies "slowly")

Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective. This ending corresponds to -ly in English.

Adjective	Fem. Form	Adverb
claro	clara	claramente
constante	constante	constantemente
difícil	difícil	difícilmente

Note: When an adjective has a written accent, the adverb retains it.



Another way to form an adverb is to use the preposition con + the singular form of the noun.

cuidadoso (carefully)
cuidadosamente or con cuidado

perfecto (perfectly)
perfectamente or con perfección

cariñoso (affectionately)
cariñosamente or con cariño

Some adverbs do not follow any pattern of origination, and must simply be memorized. Here is a list of some common ones:

bastante - quite

demasiado - too

mal - badly

mucho - a lot

muy - very

nunca - never

peor - worse

poco - little

siempre - always

When two adverbs modify the same verb, only the second one uses the -mente ending.

Juan trabaja lenta y cuidadosamente.
Juan works slowly and carefully.

El chico le habló clara y cortésmente.
The boy spoke to him clearly and courteously.

El autor escribió rápida y fácilmente.
The author wrote quickly and easily.

Formation of Adverbs:

A. Form adverbs from the following adjectives.

1. claro




2. correcto




3. horrible




4. difícil
dificilmente difícilmente



5. alegre




6. triste




7. enojado




8. lento




9. rápido
rapidamente rápidamente



10. raro

B. Write the correct adverb.

11. La muchacha come .
The girl eats little.



12. El hombre come .
The man eats a lot.



13. María viene los lunes.
Maria never comes on Mondays.



14. Yo desayuno.
I always eat breakfast.



15. bien, gracias.
Very well, thank you.

C. Write the alternate adverbial form.

16. cariñosamente
cariño



17. cortésmente
cortesía



18. apasionadamente
apasionamiento



19. gustosamente
con



20. rápidamente
rapidez

Demonstratives

Today, we will discuss demonstratives of two types:
demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns.



The first step in clearly understanding these two topics is to review the differences between "adjectives" and "pronouns."

adjective
describes a noun

pronoun
takes the place of a noun

In the following sentences, the words in bold all function as adjectives, since they all describe the noun "book."

Give me the red book.
Give me the big book.
Give me that book.
Give me this book.

Notice that adjectives answer the question "Which?" in relation to the nouns that they modify. (Which book? The red book. The big book. That book. This book.)



In the following sentences, the words in bold all function as pronouns, since they all take the place of a noun.

Maria is next; give her the ball.
Juan is here; say hello to him.
That pencil is yours; this is mine.
This book is mine; that is yours.

Notice that pronouns replace a noun.
("her" replaces "Maria" - "him" replaces "Juan" - "this" replaces "pencil" - "that" replaces "book")



As you have just seen, the words "this" and "that" can function as both adjectives and pronouns.

This book is mine. (adjective)
This (one) is mine. (pronoun)

That book is yours.(adjective)
That (one) is yours. (pronoun)

The same is true in Spanish.

Juan reads this book. (adjective)
Juan lee este libro.

Juan reads this. (pronoun)
Juan lee este.

That statue is Greek.
Esa estatua es griega.

That (one) is Spanish.
Esa es español.

Spanish has three words where English only has two.
In English, we say "this" or "that" depending upon whether the object is close to us or not.
In Spanish, we also say "this" and "that," but there is another, separate word used to mean "that one over there."
This form is used when the object is more than just a short distance away, for example, on the other side of the room.
Here are the three forms for "this" "that" and "that one over there."

este
this

ese
that

aquel
that one over there

Remember that in Spanish, adjectives have four forms:
masculine singular,
masculine plural,
feminine singular,
feminine plural.



For example the adjective "short" has four forms in Spanish: bajo, bajos, baja, bajas.

el chico bajo
los chicos bajos

la chica baja
las chicas bajas

The demonstrative adjectives also have four forms:

este libro (this book)
estos libros (these books)
esta casa (this house)
estas casas (these houses)

ese libro (that book)
esos libros (those books)
esa casa (that house)
esas casas (those houses)

aquel libro (that book over there)
aquellos libros (those books over there)
aquella casa (that house over there)
aquellas casas (those houses over there)

Here are the corresponding demonstrative pronouns:

este (this one - masculine)
estos (these ones - masculine)
esta (this one - feminine)
estas (these ones - feminine)

ese (that one - masculine)
esos (those ones - masculine)
esa (that one - feminine)
esas (those ones - feminine)

aquel (that one over there - masc.)
aquellos (those ones over there - masc.)
aquella (that one over there - fem.)
aquellas (those ones over there - fem.)

Each demonstrative pronoun also has a neuter form.
They do not change for number or gender, and they are used to refer to abstract ideas, or to an unknown object.

esto (this matter, this thing)

eso (that matter, that thing)

aquello (that matter/thing over there)

Demonstratives:

A. Choose the correct demonstrative adjective that corresponds to "this" or "these."

1. this pen
este estos esta estas pluma



2. this book
este estos esta estas libro



3. these girls
este estos esta estas muchachas



4. these apartments
este estos esta estas apartamentos

B. Choose the correct demonstrative adjective that corresponds to "that" or "those."

5. those women
ese esos esa esas mujeres



6. that car
ese esos esa esas auto



7. those buildings
ese esos esa esas edificios



8. that bed
ese esos esa esas cama

C. Choose the correct demonstrative adjective that corresponds to "that _____ over there" or "those _____ over there."

9. those houses over there
aquel aquellos aquella aquellas casas



10. that lady over there
aquel aquellos aquella aquellas señora



11. that tree over there
aquel aquellos aquella aquellas árbol



12. those buildings over there
aquel aquellos aquella aquellas edificios

D. Choose the correct demonstrative adjective or demonstrative pronoun.

13. That book is mine, but that one over there is hers.
Ese libro es mío, pero este aquel es suyo.



14. These magazines are mine, but those over there are his.
Estas revistas son mías, pero aquellos aquellas son suyas.



15. This car is mine, but that one is his.
Este coche es mío, pero este ese es suyo.



16. This table is mine, but that one is hers.
Esta mesa es mía, pero aquel esa es suya.



17. This magazine is mine, but that one is hers.
Esta Esa revista es mía, pero ésa es suya.



18. This book is mine, but that one is his.
Este Ese libro es mío, pero ése es suyo.



19. This is absurd!
¡ Este Ese Esto es absurdo!



20. That bothers me.
Ese Este Eso me molesta