Ordinal numbers

Key notes :

What are Ordinal Numbers?

  • Ordinal numbers tell the position or order of something in a line or sequence.
  • Example: 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃 First, second, third in a race!
  • They are different from cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3…) which tell how many.

First 10 Ordinal Numbers ✨

1️⃣ 1st – First
2️⃣ 2nd – Second
3️⃣ 3rd – Third
4️⃣ 4th – Fourth
5️⃣ 5th – Fifth
6️⃣ 6th – Sixth
7️⃣ 7th – Seventh
8️⃣ 8th – Eighth
9️⃣ 9th – Ninth
🔟 10th – Tenth

How to Use Ordinal Numbers 📚

  • Position in a line: “I am 3rd in the queue.” 🧒🧒👧
  • Date in a month: “My birthday is on 5th May.” 🎂
  • Rank or level: “She got 1st prize in the drawing competition.” 🏆

Fun Examples with Emojis 🎉

  • 🏁 Race finish: 1st 🥇, 2nd 🥈, 3rd 🥉
  • 🍰 Cake slices: 1st 🍰, 2nd 🍰, 3rd 🍰
  • 🐶🐱🐭 Pet line-up: 1st 🐶, 2nd 🐱, 3rd 🐭

Tips for Remembering 💡

Ordinal numbers always tell “which one” in a series.

Add -st, -nd, -rd, -th at the end of numbers:

  • 1 → 1st, 2 → 2nd, 3 → 3rd, 4 → 4th…

Learn with an example

🚀The first picture is a bear. Which picture is second?

first
  • train
  • plane
  • bear
  • The first picture is a bear.
first
  • Count from the first picture to find the second picture.
firstsecond
  • The second picture is a bear.

🚀The first picture is a bear. Which picture is ninth?

first
  • plane
  • train
  • bear
  • The first picture is a bear.
first
  • Count from the first picture to find the ninth picture.
firstsecondthirdfourthfifthsixthseventheighthninth
  • The ninth picture is a plane.

🚀The first picture is a house. Which picture is seventh?

first
  • house
  • paw
  • dog
  • The first picture is a house.
first
  • Count from the first picture to find the seventh picture.
firstsecondthirdfourthfifthsixthseventh
  • The seventh picture is a dog.

Let’s practice!