Numbers 2 : Ordinals
Numerical adjectives of order
| Index : | Numbers - cardinals | Numbers - ordinals | Fractions and decimals |
1. Ordinals in English
Ordinals are words like
first, second,
third.....
They are adjectives formed from cardinal
numbers.
They are used to indicate the position of an entity in a stated or implied series.
In common usage, written as figures, they are formed by a number followed by an abbreviated ending corresponding to the ending of the written word.
In most cases the ending is th; but take care. this is not always the case !
Note also that a final y becomes i in front of th
Ordinals are also used to express fractions and dates. In the case of fractions, the endings are not written when the fractions are expressed in figures. See fractions and dates
From 1st to 100th
Here are the main ordinals in English, up to hundredth; from these examples all others can be formed
| 1st | first | 11th | eleventh | 21st | twenty-first |
| 2nd | second | 12th | twelve | 22nd | twenty-second |
| 3rd | third | 13th | thirteen | 33rd | thirty-third |
| 4th | fourth | 14th | fourteen | 44th | forty-fourth |
| 5th | fifth | 15th | fifteenth | 50th | fiftieth |
| 6th | sixth | 16th | sixteenth | 60th | sixtieth |
| 7th | seventh | 17th | seventeenth | 71st | seventy-first |
| 8th | eighth | 18th | eighteenth | 82nd | eighty-second |
| 9th | ninth | 19th | nineteenth | 99th | ninety-ninth |
| 10th | tenth | 20th | twentieth | 100th | a hundredth |
Ordinals after 100th
From these examples you can see how all ordinals are formed| 101st | hundred and first | 365th | three hundred and sixty-fifth |
| 111th | hundred and eleventh | 500th | five hundredth |
| 121st | hundred and twenty first | 545th | five hundred and forty-fifth |
| 133rd | hundred and thirty-third | 644th | six hundred and forty-fourth |
| 257th | two hundred and fifty-seventh | 999th | nine hundred and ninety nive |
| 302nd | three hundred and second | 1250th | one thousand two hundred and fiftieth |
Note:
Ordinals can be preceded by a range of different articles or determiners.Examples:
The first anniversary - the 1st anniversary
My twenty-first birthday - My 21st birthday
Three hundredths of a second - 3/100 of a second.
My hundred and second attempt - My 102nd attempt.
The US Hundred and first Airborne division - The US 101st Airborne division
You are our millionth visitor. You are our 1,000,000th visitor
The first anniversary - the 1st anniversary
My twenty-first birthday - My 21st birthday
Three hundredths of a second - 3/100 of a second.
My hundred and second attempt - My 102nd attempt.
The US Hundred and first Airborne division - The US 101st Airborne division
You are our millionth visitor. You are our 1,000,000th visitor
Other points to note :
Translating ordinals.
The basic rule is simple : translate using words when the original ordinal is written in words, translate using figures when the original uses figures.Examples:
The first anniversary = Le premier anniversaire
My 21st birthday - Mein 21e Geburtstag
Three hundredths of a second - Tres centésimas de segundo
His 203rd attempt - Zijn 203 poging.
The US Hundred and first Airborne division - La cent-unième division US aeroportée.
The first anniversary = Le premier anniversaire
My 21st birthday - Mein 21e Geburtstag
Three hundredths of a second - Tres centésimas de segundo
His 203rd attempt - Zijn 203 poging.
The US Hundred and first Airborne division - La cent-unième division US aeroportée.
| Index : | Numbers - cardinals | Numbers - ordinals | Fractions and decimals |
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