GENDER: A Detailed Analysis and Explanation

Definition:
Gender refers to the classification of nouns and pronouns based on sex or characteristics associated with masculinity, femininity, or neutrality. In English grammar, gender plays a crucial role in determining the correct usage of pronouns and possessive adjectives.

1. Types of Gender in English

(i) Masculine Gender

This refers to nouns that denote male persons or animals.
Example:
- Man (পুরুষ), Boy (ছেলে), Father (বাবা), Lion (সিংহ)

(ii) Feminine Gender

This includes nouns that refer to female persons or animals.
Example:
- Woman (মহিলা), Girl (মেয়ে), Mother (মা), Lioness (সিংহী)

(iii) Common Gender

Some nouns can refer to both males and females without specifying the sex.
Example:
- Child (শিশু), Teacher (শিক্ষক/শিক্ষিকা), Doctor (ডাক্তার), Friend (বন্ধু)

(iv) Neuter Gender

These nouns refer to things that have no life or gender.
Example:
- Table (টেবিল), Book (বই), City (শহর), Water (পানি)

2. Gender and Pronouns

In English, pronouns change according to gender:

Masculine: he, him, his (সে, তাকে, তার)
Feminine: she, her, hers (সে, তাকে, তার)
Common: they, them, their (তারা, তাদের)
Neuter: it, its (এটি, এর)

3. Formation of Feminine Gender

There are different ways to form feminine gender in English:

(i) By Adding ‘-ess’ to Masculine Nouns

Actor → Actress (অভিনেতা → অভিনেত্রী)
Lion → Lioness (সিংহ → সিংহী)

(ii) By Using an Entirely Different Word

Man → Woman (পুরুষ → মহিলা)
King → Queen (রাজা → রানি)

(iii) By Adding a Prefix or Suffix

He-goat → She-goat (ছাগল → ছাগলী)
God → Goddess (দেবতা → দেবী)

4. Gender in Sentence Construction

In English, gender agreement is important for clarity. For example:

✅ The queen ruled her kingdom wisely. (সঠিক বাক্য)
❌ The queen ruled his kingdom wisely. (ভুল বাক্য)

When referring to someone whose gender is unknown, we use common pronouns:

A student should do their homework. (ছাত্র/ছাত্রীকে তার কাজ করা উচিত।)

5. Modern Usage of Gender

In modern English, there is a shift towards gender-neutral language. Some professions and roles avoid gender-specific terms:

Policeman → Police officer (পুলিশ → পুলিশ অফিসার)
Chairman → Chairperson (সভাপতি → সভানেত্রী)

Conclusion

Gender in English affects nouns, pronouns, and sentence structure. Understanding these classifications helps in correct communication. The modern trend is to use gender-neutral language where possible to promote inclusivity.

GENDER: A Detailed Analysis and Explanation