Ordinal and cardinal numbers

Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers Chart

A Cardinal Number is a number that says how many of something there are, such as one, two, three, four, five.

An Ordinal Number is a number that tells the position of something in a list, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th etc.

Most ordinal numbers end in "th" except for:

• one ⇒ first (1st)
• two ⇒ second (2nd)
• three ⇒ third (3rd)

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Ordinal vs. Cardinal Numbers - The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Numbers can often present different style questions in American English. When should we spell them, and when shouldn’t we? In particular, what are ordinal numbers and what are cardinal numbers, and how do we treat them? Mastering these distinctions will refine your precision in your daily writing.

For this discussion, we’ll review style guidance from our two primary supporting references, The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style.

AP is popular style for everyday communications such as newspapers, magazines, and online journalism. CMOS is widely regarded as a style authority for more-formal publications such as books and academic writing. You can choose to follow the style format that is best suited to you and your audience.

What Are Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers are those that indicate rank, order, or position. Ordinal numbers do not express quantities, an important distinction from cardinal numbers.

Concerning ordinal numbers, AP advises to spell out first through ninth:

Keersten just won the sixth gold medal of her illustrious ice-skating career.

That is the fourth guitar string I’ve broken in the last few weeks.

For ordinal numbers greater than ninth, AP directs to use figures:

Vithu recently celebrated his 30th birthday.

Jean has crossed her 13th mile of the marathon.

The Chicago Manual of Style advises to spell out first through one hundredth:

Vithu recently celebrated his thirtieth birthday.

I’m pretty sure that’s the one hundredth time you told me that.

For ordinal numbers greater than one hundredth, CMOS directs to use figures:

Today is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the village.

The labor strike has reached its 205th day.

What Are Cardinal Numbers?

Cardinal numbers—also known as counting numbers—are used to specify quantities (i.e., they identify how many). They are what come to mind most often when we think of numbers. Unlike ordinal numbers, they do not specify rank, order, or position.

AP advises to spell out one through nine:

Blaine has two dogs, and Ray-Ray has five.

Gator was held back after his junior year of high school, so he went to three total proms.

For cardinal numbers greater than nine, AP typically directs to use figures:

Victor owns 32 miniature replicas of different types of airplanes.

The labor strike has reached day 205.

 CMOS advises to spell out one through one hundred:

Blaine has two dogs, and Ray-Ray has five.

Victor owns thirty-two miniature replicas of different types of airplanes.

For cardinal numbers greater than one hundred, CMOS directs to use figures:

The state-park expansion now includes an additional 220 acres for wildlife preservation.

That rampart is 1,185 years old.

The exceptions to this CMOS guideline are whole numbers combined with hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, billion, etc.

Approximately two hundred thousand people attended the city parade and celebration.

Scientists estimate the earth to be more than four billion years old.

Ordinal vs. Cardinal: Tips for Remembering

Even after a good review, the difference between ordinal and cardinal numbers can sometimes still be evasive.

One device for recalling the distinction is to associate ordinal with the concept of order. Ordinal numbers also will not be expressed as counting digits (one, five, ten, etc.) and, when written, will usually include a suffix: 10th, 35th, 101st.

Similarly, you can remind yourself that cardinal relates to counting, and both words begin with a c.

A Note About Nominal Numbers

Certain numbers can be classified as nominal numbers. This means that they identify something as opposed to counting or ordering it. Just a few examples might be a zip code, a telephone number, or a sports player’s uniform number.

Examples

Jason lives somewhere in Beverly Hills 90210.

The new number for Doggie Dearest Grooming is 888-555-3644.

We will always remember the Chicago Bears’ legendary 34, Walter Payton.

A Note About Placement and Consistency

We’ve reviewed the primary basics for treating numbers in your writing according to a more-formal style (CMOS) or a daily, slightly less-formal style (AP).

There are two more leading items to keep in mind that both AP and CMOS agree on.

1) If a sentence begins with a number, the number is typically spelled out:

Forty years is a long time to drive the same car.

One hundred twenty students attended the rally.

If the starting number would be laborious to write out, try rewriting the sentence:

One thousand nine hundred seventy-two people responded to the offer for the free tickets.

The offer for the free tickets attracted 1,972 responses.

2) It is acceptable to use numerals if multiple items are in a related category or if spelling the numbers would make the content too thick or cumbersome:

Chester’s farm includes 12 cows, 5 horses, 34 chickens, and 11 goats.

The ages of the judges on the panel are 64, 38, 29, 53, and 32.

Related Topics

Rules for Writing Numbers
Writing Dates and Times
Numbers: Words or Numerals?

Pop Quiz

Identify if the number(s) in each sentence are ordinal or cardinal. The sentences will vary between AP and CMOS style.

1. This is the fourth time I’ve called to make an appointment. [ordinal / cardinal]

2. The band’s lead singer said the candy bowl must include 74 green M&Ms, 56 red ones, and 102 yellow ones. [ordinal / cardinal]

3. Markus set the record for the discus throw with his sixth attempt. [ordinal / cardinal]

4. Ten days is the normal waiting period to receive the package. [ordinal / cardinal]

5. The distance between Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles. [ordinal / cardinal]

Pop Quiz Answers

1. This is the fourth time I’ve called to make an appointment. ordinal

2. The band’s lead singer said the candy bowl must include 74 green M&Ms, 56 red ones, and 102 yellow ones. cardinal

3. Markus set the record for the discus throw with his sixth attempt. ordinal

4. Ten days is the normal waiting period to receive the package. cardinal

5. The distance between Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles. cardinal

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Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers in English

On average, each of us uses from 20 to 40 numbers during the day. Therefore, it is worth paying special attention to the numerals in English: without them, how without hands - neither order a pizza, nor dictate a phone, nor find out what year it is.

Ordinal numbers

Numerals in English, as well as in Russian, are of 2 types: quantitative and ordinal. On this, perhaps, the similarity between English and Russian numerals ends.

Ordinal numbers - answer the question " which is ".

Most ordinal numbers are formed with the ending th .

Ordinal numbers are most often attached to a noun, so they are preceded by the definite article the:

• The forty-six th president of the United States. Forty-sixth President of the United States.
November
• is the eleven th month. November is the eleventh month.

The formation of numerals in English has a clear algorithm. So, ordinal numbers are formed by adding th to cardinal numbers. But there are exceptions: first, second, third.

In compound ordinal numbers, only the last component is in ordinal form: twenty-sixth, seventy-fourth.

Tens ending in y change to ie:

• fort y - fort ie th.

In writing, ordinal numbers can be abbreviated, there is no need to write so much:

• First - 1st
• Second - 2nd
• Third - 3rd
• Fourth - 4th
• Fifth - 5th and so on

In the table - numerals of the English language. Save, Teach, Practice:

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Cardinal numbers

Cardinal numbers - answer the question "how much" .

Remove should be no problem. There are no special chips and wisdom in their education - you just have to remember a few features.

Numerals hundred, thousand, million are used in the singular. No need to add the plural ending S.

The ending S is used only if the numerals are used as nouns:

• thousands of followers
• hundreds of voters - hundreds of voters
• dozens of comments

When you write a large number in English, you have to split it with commas, like this:

• 1.567 one thousand, five hundred and sixty-seven

By the way, in the UK it is customary to split long numbers with the union and:

• seven hundred and sixty - three

And in American English it is accepted like this:

• seven hundred sixty - three

Choose which English is closer to you and use one of the options.

Cardinal numbers will probably be needed for you to dictate a phone number. Are people still exchanging numbers in 2020? Let's assume that yes and remember:

• the digits of the phone number are pronounced one at a time
• if two identical digits are in a row, you can say double and say the digit once
• 112 - 344 double one two three double four

Another effective way to quickly memorize numbers is to sign up for English lessons for children 8 years old online at Skysmart School.

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Features of numerals

Everything could be simple and understandable with English numerals, if not for a few tricky rules that need to be understood and remembered.

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Zero

Zero - he is zero, he is also zero, nil, nought and o - many-sided and mysterious, let's figure it out.

Zero is pronounced like zero:

• in the weather forecast: above zero - above zero, below zero - below zero, reduce to zero - reduce to zero.
• as a percentage: there is only a 30% chance of rain - the chance of rain is only 30%.
• in stable expressions: zero visibility - zero visibility, zero chance - zero chances.
• in phone numbers it is equally acceptable to pronounce both zero and o [əu]
• in fractions: 0.6 - zero point six.

Zero is pronounced like o [əu]:

• for years and times: 2007 - twenty o seven.
• in telephone numbers, bank accounts: 051 600 30 – o five one six double o three
• in fractions: 0.8 - o point eight.

If we are talking about sports competitions, matches, championships, use Nil:

• we won four-nil - we won three-nil
• we drew nil-nil - we drew

British nought/naught means "zero", "nothing". The word is outdated and almost never used, but it won't hurt to remember it. Suddenly, Elon Musk messes up something, and we fly into the past, not into the future.

Years

Cardinal numbers are used to designate years in English.

• The four-digit year is divided in half and pronounced as two separate numbers: 1996 nineteen ninety - six,

• Millenniums are pronounced in thousands:

  2020 - two thousand twenty / twenty twenty,

  22000 - two thousand,

  22007 - two thousand and seven,

  21907 - nineteen or seven,

• If there are two zeros at the end of the year, then we say with hundred, that is, we count hundreds:

  1700 - seventeen hundred, 1900 - nineteen hundred.

Remember:

The year is preceded by the preposition in .

The word year is either completely omitted in the sentence, or stands before the numeral, contrary to any logic of a Russian-speaking person:

• Game of Thrones premiered in 2011

Also remember these designations, they are often found in books, textbooks and in movies:

• BC - before Christ (before Christ, - BC).
• AD - Anno Domini (after the birth of Christ, - our era).

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Fractions

Fractions - ½. The rules of writing are the same as in Russian. Recall that what is above the line is the numerator, and what is below it is the denominator.

Attention now:

1. The numerator is pronounced like a cardinal number.

2. Denominator as ordinal number.

3. The numerator one can be read as an article a :

   • 1/14 - one fourteenth / a fourteenth

   • 1/8 - one eighth / a eighth

   • 1/3 - one third / a third

If the numerator is greater than 1, then the plural ending s is added to the ordinal denominator:

• 4/5 - four fifths
• 2/8-two eighths
• 1/2 - one half / a half
• 1/4 - one quarter / a quarter / one fourth
• 2/4 - two quarters

Remember:

When reading fractions, half is half
A quarter, one fourth

Decimals . There are a few things to remember here. In English decimal fractions, a dot is put, not a comma, and we do not pronounce fractions (tenths, hundredths, etc.). They are just called numbers. The point is also pronounced point:

• 2.26 - two point twenty six
• 7.654 - seven point six five four

If there is no integer before the point, then zero is pronounced or nothing is said at all:

• 0.3 - zero point three / point three
• 0.65 - zero point six five / point six five
• 0.02 - zero point zero two / point zero two

You can also say o [əu] instead of zero.

Percentages in English do not require a plural. Percent is always singular:

• 3.3% - three point three percent
• 50% - fifty percent
• 99% - ninety-nine percent

Money

The currency designation always precedes the amount: ＄500 - $500, €200 - two hundred euros. First, the amount is pronounced, and only then the name of the currency - do not mix it up.

If the amount consists of a decimal fraction, then first we pronounce the whole number, then the currency, and at the end - the decimal part.

• € 16.55 - sixteen euros fifty five
• ＄20. 99 - twenty dollars ninety nine

If you know the name of the coin, you can insert it at the end.

Arithmetic operations

Cardinal numbers are used for counting in English.
to equal - equal to

• 2+2 = 4 - two plus two is four
• 10-5 = 5 - ten minus five equals five
• 30 x 3 = 90 - thirty multiplied by three is ninety
• 50 : 5 = 10 - fifty divided by five equals ten

The verb to be can be plural when added. And the verb to equal can be replaced by the verb to make.

• 36 + 6 = 42 - thirty six and six are forty two
• 8 + 4 = 12 - eight plus four make twelve

Let's practice

You already know how to read numbers in English. To remember all this better, try to practice a little.

1. Read aloud

• phone number: 125 - 344 - 09- 08, 566 - 321 - 007
• : 2003, 1984, 2012, 1400, 1901
• common fraction: 1/8; 1/2; 1/5; 2/3; 1/4; 2/4
• decimal: 2.39; 3.50; 1.70; 0.35; 0.08
• amount: €450, €60.88, €100, ＄78, ＄89, ＄35. 99
• example: 45 - 5 = 40, 2 x 10 = 20, 48 : 6 = 8, 78 + 8 = 86

2. Translate into English and read aloud (return to the plate at the beginning of the article).

thirteenth, first, thirty-ninth, eighteenth, fifth, eighth, four hundred and thirty-fourth, one thousand one hundred and one, nine hundred fifty-third, eleventh, two million three hundred thousand and fourth.

In order not only to practice the ability to pronounce English numerals, but also to test your writing skills, complete the task in writing. Write all the numbers and read what is written aloud.

Even more practice - at the preparation courses for the OGE in English!

English cheat sheets for parents

All the rules in English at hand

Ordinal and cardinal numbers in English

Numerals indicate the sequence or number of animate and inanimate objects. In English, as in Russian, they are divided into two groups depending on their purpose and the functions they perform. But in a foreign language there are some nuances of using this part of speech.

You can count something or someone in different ways. The language variant used must be taken into account. Thus, the British account is more formal than the American one. The British, for example, talk about numbers in compliance with all literary norms: “two thousand and nineteen”, while the Americans use a more colloquial version: “two thousand nineteen”.

There are other subtleties that you will learn about in this article. Let's analyze the grammar rules and the standard use of English numerals.

Designate a certain place of an object in relation to other objects. They express place, position, rank. When translated into Russian, it is “first”, “twentieth”, “hundredth”. These include all words that specify a numerical location.

Answer the question: “What is the number?”.

Express the position of only one object.

Usually formed with the ending "th", but not always. There are three exceptions to remember:

Third. / Third.

Second. / Second.

First. / The first.

The remaining numerals follow the same formation scheme. 2 letters are attached to the base. In order to save money, they can be indicated by a number on a letter:

18 ^th . / Eighteenth.

Twentie th . / Twentieth.

Ten th . / Tenth.

They are combined with pronouns or nouns. Moreover, the latter are always used with "the".

He gave the twentieth orange to the child. / The twentieth orange he gave to the child .

My sister is the second child. / My sister - second child at family .

I invite you to a party on the 12th of March. / I invite you to a party March 12 .

There are set phrases in English that use only ordinal numbers. Such constructions include street names and event names.

The Second World War. / Second World War .

The Ninth Avenue. / Ninth Ave .

The Third Reich. / Third Reich .

They are also used to indicate age and decades. At the same time, they are used both in full and in abbreviated form.

In my 32nd year. / At my is 32 .

Between the twenties and forties. / Between twenties and forties .

Fiftieth anniversary. / Fiftieth anniversary .

Indicate the number of something or someone. They are used to count and recalculate objects, reporting their specific number. These include all the numbers: "two", "thirty", "one hundred".

Answer the question: "How much?".

Express the number of things.

There is no single rule for their formation. Each number from 1 to 12 has a unique form that needs to be learned. The ending "teen" is added to the numbers from 13 to 19. And to denote tens, “ty” is added to the base. To name a hundred or a thousand of something, before the word "hundred" or "thousand" the number is indicated.

Four. / Four .

Seventeen. / Seventeen .

Ninety. / Ninety.

In grammatical terms, their peculiarity is that when counting in millions, hundreds or thousands, they are used exclusively in the singular and never change their form. The letter "s" is added if the numeral in the sentence performs the function of the subject.

This seller has deceived dozens of buyers. / This seller cheated a dozen buyers .

Thousands of flights were cancelled on Tuesday. / On Tuesday flights were canceled thousand flights .

Hundreds of tourists visit London every day. / Daily London visits hundreds tourists .

Unlike ordinal numbers, these numbers can be combined with nouns without an article. In this case, the quantitative word is placed after the object. Such constructions are often used to indicate acts in plays, transport numbers, pages, houses, paragraphs, shoe and clothing sizes. In a letter, a round number is usually written in full, and not a round one - in numbers or words (with a complex number, a hyphen is placed between them).

Ella stopped reading on page sixty-three . / Ella stopped reading at page sixty-three.

Bus 97 goes to downtown, making a stop on waterfront. / 97 bus goes to the city center, making a stop on the embankment.

The doctor takes patients in office twenty . / Doctor sees patients in the 20th room .

There are slight differences in the use of composite numbers. In the UK, it is customary to connect parts of complex numerals with the union "and", but in America they do not.

Three hundred and sixteen. / 216. (British)

Three hundred sixteen. / 216. (American)

Another difference is associated with the designation "billion" (billion). In the English tradition it is a million millions, and in the American tradition it is a thousand millions. To avoid confusion, they try to “get around” this word, resorting to the forms “million million” (million millions) and “thousand million” (thousand millions).

Cardinal numbers will be needed to indicate the days of the week, months of the date in English.

These are used to indicate the year. In this case, the date is divided into 2 parts, and the two digits that make it up are called.

Nineteen hundred and five. / 1905.

Fourteen eighty-two. / 1482.

They also apply if you need to provide a phone number. In this case, each digit is pronounced separately. And if there is a repetition, then the word “double” is said before it.

Nine one six double two seven three. / 916-22-73.

The two kinds of numbers are sometimes used together. This applies when they refer to the same object. In this case, the sentence first comes ordinal, and immediately after it is quantitative. Changing the order is not allowed.

The first three years, Anna was a bad student at the University. / The first three years Anna poorly studied at University .

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