Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal Numbers in English

Ordinal numbers are essential in everyday communication, especially when indicating position, order, or ranking. In this post, we’ll explore what ordinal numbers are, provide examples, and include practical exercises to help you master them!

What Are Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers indicate the position or order of something in a sequence. They answer the question "Which one?" and are different from cardinal numbers, which indicate quantity (one, two, three, etc.).

Common Ordinal Numbers:

1st - First

2nd - Second

3rd - Third

4th - Fourth

5th - Fifth

6th - Sixth

7th - Seventh

8th - Eighth

9th - Ninth

10th - Tenth

For larger numbers:

20th - Twentieth

30th - Thirtieth

40th - Fortieth

50th - Fiftieth

60th - Sixtieth

70th - Seventieth

80th - Eightieth

90th - Ninetieth

100th - One hundredth

Practical Uses of Ordinal Numbers

1. Dates

My birthday is on the twenty-third of July.

Today is the first of March.

2. Ranking and Position

She finished in third place.

This is the fifth time I’ve visited this city.

3. Floors in a Building

His apartment is on the seventh floor.

The conference room is on the second floor.

4. Steps in a Process

First, wash your hands.

Second, cut the vegetables.

Third, cook the ingredients.

Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the correct ordinal numbers:

I came in ____ place in the race. (2nd)

Her birthday is on the ____ of November. (15th)

This is my ____ visit to the museum. (3rd)

Exercise 2: Write the Numbers in Words

Convert these numbers into words:

21st

42nd

99th

Exercise 3: Listening Practice

Ask a friend to say an ordinal number aloud, and write it down in words. This will help improve both your listening and writing skills!

Ordinal numbers are a key part of English communication. With regular practice, you’ll be able to use them confidently in everyday situations. Try the exercises and let us know your progress in the comments!