Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Masc/Fem Form Questions

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 21, 2008, 10:44 AM
Suavemente's Avatar
Suavemente Suavemente is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: EE.UU(Oklahoma)
Posts: 121
Native Language: American English
Suavemente is on a distinguished road
Masc/Fem Form Questions

For example, Spanish television stations use "esta noche" when a show is being broadcasted that night. Do males use esta noche or the gender specific form of este noche? Also are there any exceptions other than a reference to something being feminine gender specific for males using the feminine form?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old August 21, 2008, 11:04 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,859
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suavemente View Post
For example, Spanish television stations use "esta noche" when a show is being broadcasted that night. Do males use esta noche or the gender specific form of este noche? Also are there any exceptions other than a reference to something being feminine gender specific for males using the feminine form?
Noche is a feminine gender noun (la noche=the night esta noche=this night or tonight.)
Día is a masculine gender noun( el dia = the day este dia= this day)
I hope this helps.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 21, 2008, 11:40 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,370
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Avoid trying to tie masculine words to a male, and feminine words to a female. This will not help you in the long run. If you're a female, you do have to worry about adjectives (and some nouns) that apply to yourself.

el miembro = member (male or female)
la persona = person (male or female)

If you're a female, you must use feminine endings on the words that apply to you:
estoy cansada = I'm tired (female speaking)
estoy cansado = I'm tired (male speaking)
no estoy segura = I'm not sure (female speaking)
no estoy seguro = I'm not sure (male speaking)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 21, 2008, 07:25 PM
Suavemente's Avatar
Suavemente Suavemente is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: EE.UU(Oklahoma)
Posts: 121
Native Language: American English
Suavemente is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Avoid trying to tie masculine words to a male, and feminine words to a female. This will not help you in the long run. If you're a female, you do have to worry about adjectives (and some nouns) that apply to yourself.

el miembro = member (male or female)
la persona = person (male or female)

If you're a female, you must use feminine endings on the words that apply to you:
estoy cansada = I'm tired (female speaking)
estoy cansado = I'm tired (male speaking)
no estoy segura = I'm not sure (female speaking)
no estoy seguro = I'm not sure (male speaking)
so el persona, correct or incorrect?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old August 21, 2008, 08:32 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,370
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suavemente View Post
so el persona, correct or incorrect?
No, it's la persona, even if the person is male. Nouns in Spanish have a gender. It is best to avoid thinking male and female. They happen to use masculine and feminine to designate the difference, but that is where it ends. A masculine noun is not necessarily a female. A feminine noun may be used for a male (like la persona).

Some nouns do have both a masculine and a feminine form. In those cases only, the gender of the noun will always match the person's gender. It only gets fuzzy when the masculine plural form is used. This could mean all male or a mix of female and male persons. For example:
un científico = a (male) scientist
el científico = the (male) scientist
los científicos = the scientists (could refer to two or more males, or a mix of male and female scientists)
una científica = a (female) scientist
la científica = the (female) scientist
las científicas = the scientists (all of which are female)

Does this answer your question?

Caution: There are nouns that are both masculine and feminine, but have a different meaning. This is when it's good to remember that a noun's gender usually has nothing to do with a male or a female person. For example:
un cura = a priest (un sacerdote)
una cura = a cure

A good dictionary lists gender, and indicates whether the noun has any of the dual gender or dual meaning characteristics.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
gender

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pronunciation Questions ckc777 Grammar 6 October 27, 2008 08:45 PM
One of those questions... María José General Chat 15 August 13, 2008 12:57 PM
Two questions about ceviche WMX Culture 3 March 06, 2007 09:02 AM
Questions about Vos and some anarchisms Archemorus Vocabulary 5 September 08, 2006 09:45 AM
Two questions Archemorus Vocabulary 8 July 12, 2006 06:29 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:26 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X