Unit 8.1
Ordinal numbers
Introduction
Ordinal numbers express numerical sequences, positioning elements in a list.
Form
Ordinal numbers are made by adding -th* to the cardinal numbers (1 – 10) except in some occassions marked:
- 1st* – First
- 2nd* – Second
- 3rd* – Third
- 4th – Fourth
- 5th* – Fifth
- 6th – Sixth
- 7th – Seventh
- 8th* – Eighth
- 9th* – Ninth
- 10th – Tenth
*The exceptions (also twelve = twelfth).
Example
- It’s my second time in Sweden.
- He was the first on the list.
- Our house is the fourth on the left.
Use
We use ordinal numbers to show the position of something. They can be placed after the verb or working as a noun when they are only accompanied by the article ‘the’ with no noun after the ordinal number.