GRADE 9 English CITIZENSHIP – GRAMMAR IN USE:GENDER - NEUTRAL LANGUAGE Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: GENDER‑NEUTRAL LANGUAGE
Subject: English | Topic: Citizenship | Age: 14 (Kenya)
Gender‑neutral language avoids words or forms that suggest a person’s gender when it is not needed. In citizenship topics (leaders, community members, public servants), using neutral words helps everyone feel included and shows respect.
- It is fair and respectful to all citizens.
- It avoids making assumptions about someone's gender.
- It makes writing and speech clear and modern (used in schools, government, media).
Common ways to be gender‑neutral
- Use neutral job titles: chair/chairperson or chair is better than chairman. Example: "The chair opened the meeting."
- Use neutral nouns with -person: police officer, postal worker, salesperson → salesperson can be replaced by sales person or sales representative; use "member of Parliament" (MP) rather than "MPs" for people of known gender.
- Use "they" as a singular pronoun: "If a citizen forgets their ID, they should report to the county office."
- Make the sentence plural: "Any voter must bring their ID" → "Voters must bring their IDs."
- Use rephrasing: Replace "he or she" with "the person", "the student", "the teacher", etc.: "Each student should hand in their work."
- Use titles that are neutral: "President", "Governor", "MP", "Councillor", "Principal" are already neutral.
The chairman asked the voter if he had an ID.
The chair asked the voter if they had an ID.
Short guide: Which option to use?
- If the person’s gender is known and relevant, use the correct pronoun (he/she). If not, use singular "they".
- If the sentence sounds awkward, make it plural: change "a citizen should" → "citizens should".
- Do not use "s/he" or "he/she" in formal writing — prefer "they", plural, or rephrase.
Examples (Kenyan citizenship context)
1. Before: "The MP told his constituents about the new law."
After: "The MP told their constituents about the new law."
2. Before: "Each teacher must submit his report."
After: "Teachers must submit their reports."
3. Before: "The chairman of the community group welcomed the elders."
After: "The chair of the community group welcomed the elders."
4. Before: "Anyone who wants to vote must bring his ID."
After: "Anyone who wants to vote must bring their ID."
Quick rules about singular "they"
- Singular they takes plural verbs: "They are a citizen." (not "They is").
- It works for unknown gender or when you do not want to state gender.
- It is widely accepted in modern English and used in Kenyan schools and official writing.
Practice: Change the sentence to be gender‑neutral
- "The mayor asked each resident to give his comment."
- "A farmer must bring his farm records to the office."
- "Every councillor should share his opinion with the group."
- "The nurse told the mother that he would return in an hour."
- "If a student loses his registration card, he will be fined."
Answers
- "The mayor asked each resident to give their comment." OR "Mayors asked residents to give their comments."
- "A farmer must bring their farm records to the office." OR "Farmers must bring their farm records to the office."
- "Every councillor should share their opinion with the group." OR "Councillors should share their opinions with the group."
- "The nurse told the mother that they would return in an hour." (Or if the nurse's gender is known, use he/she accordingly.)
- "If students lose their registration cards, they will be fined." OR "If a student loses a registration card, they will be fined."
Short classroom task (5 minutes)
Write three sentences about Kenyan citizenship (voting, community service, leadership) using gender‑neutral language. Use singular "they" at least once.
Prepared for Kenyan learners (age 14). Use these rules when writing school work, speeches, or community notices.