Ordinal Numbers
Numeral adjectives (first, second, etc.) are used to list elements in a sequence:
| 1st | first |
| 2nd | second |
| 3rd | third |
| 4th | fourth |
| 5th | fifth |
| 6th | sixth |
| 7th | seventh |
| 8th | eighth |
| 9th | ninth |
| 10th | tenth |
| 11th | eleventh |
| 12th | twelfth |
| 13th | thirteenth |
| 14th | fourteenth |
| 15th | fifteenth |
| 16th | sixteenth |
| 17th | seventeenth |
| 18th | eighteenth |
| 19th | nineteenth |
| 20th | twentieth |
| 31st | thirty-first |
| 100th | one hundredth |
| 511th | five hundred and eleventh |
Note: In the written versions, we add st, nd or th to the number.
first → 1st
second → 2nd
tenth → 10th
second → 2nd
tenth → 10th
Fun with Ordinal Numbers!
We use numeral adjectives to express dates. Example:
We use numeral adjectives to express dates. Example:
| 10th April, 2008 | the tenth of April, two thousand and eight (UK) | |
| or April (the) tenth, two thousand and eight | ||
| April 10, 2008 | April ten(th), two thousand eight (US) |
We also express centuries and titles (of Kings, Queens, Popes, etc.) with numeral adjectives:
Charles I (1600-1649)
You: Did you know that Charles the First lived in the seventeenth century?
Friend: Really? You're so clever! The 21st century is a lot more interesting with you in it.
You: Did you know that Charles the First lived in the seventeenth century?
Friend: Really? You're so clever! The 21st century is a lot more interesting with you in it.
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