Ordinal Numbers
Introduction
We use ordinal numbers to say the date or to put things into order.
The Ordinal Numbers
| 1st | first | 11th | eleventh | 21st | twenty-first | 31st | thirty-first |
| 2nd | second | 12th | twelfth | 22nd | twenty-second | 40th | fortieth |
| 3rd | third | 13th | thirteenth | 23rd | twenty-third | 50th | fiftieth |
| 4th | fourth | 14th | fourteenth | 24th | twenty-fourth | 60th | sixtieth |
| 5th | fifth | 15th | fifteenth | 25th | twenty-fifth | 70th | seventieth |
| 6th | sixth | 16th | sixteenth | 26th | twenty-sixth | 80th | eightieth |
| 7th | seventh | 17th | seventeenth | 27th | twenty-seventh | 90th | ninetieth |
| 8th | eighth | 18th | eighteenth | 28th | twenty-eighth | 100th | one hundredth |
| 9th | ninth | 19th | nineteenth | 29th | twenty-ninth | 1000th | one thousandth |
| 10th | tenth | 20th | twentieth | 30th | thirtieth | 1,000,000th | one millionth |
Writing the Ordinal Numbers
To write ordinal numbers we just add th to the number:
- Example:
- four – fourth
- eleven – eleventh
Exceptions
- one – first
- two – second
- three – third
- five – fifth
- eight – eighth
- nine – ninth
- twelve – twelfth
In larger numbers, we only change the last numeral to an ordinal number:
- Example:
- 421st = four hundred and twenty-first
- 5,011th = five thousand and eleventh
Numerals
To turn numerals into ordinal numbers we add the last two letters of the written number to the numeral.
- first = 1st
- second = 2nd
- third = 3rd
- fourth = 4th
- twenty-sixth = 26th
- a/one hundred and first = 101st
Usage
Date: We use ordinal numbers to say the date.
- Example:
- Today is the eleventh of June.
- The concert is on the the seventeenth of January.
Order and lists: We use ordinal numbers to put things in an order or when making lists/enumerations.
- Example:
- We live on the fifteenth floor.
- First, wash the rice. Second, put it in a saucepan. Third, add water. Fourth, cook for 10 minutes.
Titles: In titles (e.g. kings and queens), ordinal numbers are written as Roman numerals. In Spoken English, we add the definite article before the ordinal number:
- Example:
- Charles II – Charles the Second
- Edward VI – Edward the Sixth
- Henry VIII – Henry the Eighth
Roman Numerals
| Symbol | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
