Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are the numbers that talk about the position of objects. For example, 'The cookies are kept in the 3^rd drawer from the top', 'The orange dress is the 7^th one from the right', 'The soccer ball is kept in the 3^rd carton from the left'. All these sentences have one thing in common - they talk about the positions of the objects. This is the main element in the discussion of ordinal numbers.

1.	What are Ordinal Numbers?
2.	Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
3.	List of Ordinal Numbers from 1 to 100
4.	FAQs on Ordinal Numbers

What are Ordinal Numbers?

An ordinal number is a number that indicates the position or order of something in relation to other numbers, like, first, second, third, and so on. This order or sequence may be according to the size, importance, or any chronology. Let us understand the ordinal numbers with an example. Ten students participated in a contest. Out of them, the top winners were given medals and were ranked as 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd. In this case, the positions: 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd are ordinal numbers.

Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

A cardinal number is a number that denotes the count of any object. Any natural number such as 1, 2, 3, etc., is referred to as a cardinal number, whereas, an ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object. For example, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, etc. Now, if we say, 'There are 3 ants and 5 bears'. This is an example of cardinal numbers. However, if we say, 'The position of the runners in the running event is first, second, third, and so on', this represents ordinal numbers. Observe the table given below to note the difference between cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers.

Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

List of Ordinal Numbers from 1 to 100

The list of ordinal numbers from 1 to 100 can be learned easily and is quite helpful for specifying the order of any given object. You can use the combinations from this list to find out the ordinal numbers from 100 onward. Observe the table given below in order to understand how ordinal numbers are written. You might be able to pick up a pattern after referring to the first twenty ordinal numbers.

1st: First	21st: Twenty-First	41st: Forty-First	61th: Sixty-First	81st: Eighty-First
2nd: Second	22nd: Twenty-Second	42nd: Forty-Second	62nd: Sixty-Second	82nd: Eighty-Second
3rd: Third	23rd: Twenty-Third	43rd: Forty-Third	63rd: Sixty-Third	83rd: Eighty-Third
4th: Fourth	24th: Twenty-Fourth	44th: Forty-Fourth	64th: Sixty-Fourth	84th: Eighty-Fourth
5th: Fifth	25th: Twenty-Fifth	45th: Forty-Fifth	65th: Sixty-Fifth	85th: Eighty-Fifth
6th: Sixth	26th: Twenty-Sixth	46th: Forty-Sixth	66th: Sixty-Sixth	86th: Eighty-Sixth
7th: Seventh	27th: Twenty-Seventh	47th: Forty-Seventh	67th: Sixty-Seventh	87th: Eighty-Seventh
8th: Eighth	28th: Twenty-Eighth	48th: Forty-Eighth	68th: Sixty-Eighth	88th: Eighty-Eighth
9th: Ninth	29th: Twenty-Ninth	49th: Forty-Ninth	69th: Sixty-Ninth	89th: Eighty-Ninth
10th: Tenth	30th: Thirtieth	50th: Fiftieth	70th: Seventieth	90th: Ninetieth
11th: Eleventh	31st: Thirty-First	51st: Fifty-First	71st: Seventy-First	91st: Ninety-First
12th: Twelfth	32nd: Thirty-Second	52nd: Fifty-Second	72nd: Seventy-Second	92nd: Ninety-Second
13th: Thirteenth	33rd: Thirty-Third	53rd: Fifty-Third	73rd: Seventy-Third	93rd: Ninety-Third
14th: Fourteenth	34th: Thirty-Fourth	54th: Fifty-Fourth	74th: Seventy-Fourth	94th: Ninety-Fourth
15th: Fifteenth	35th: Thirty-Fifth	55th: Fifty-Fifth	75th: Seventy-Fifth	95th: Ninety-Fifth
16th: Sixteenth	36th: Thirty-Sixth	56th: Fifty-Sixth	76th: Seventy-Sixth	96th: Ninety-Sixth
17th: Seventeenth	37th: Thirty-Seventh	57th: Fifty-Seventh	77th: Seventy-Seventh	97th: Ninety-Seventh
18th: Eighteenth	38th: Thirty-Eighth	58th: Fifty-Eighth	78th: Seventy-Eighth	98th: Ninety-Eighth
19th: Nineteenth	39th: Thirty-Ninth	59th: Fifty-Ninth	79th: Seventy-Ninth	99th: Ninety-Ninth
20th: Twentieth	40th: Fortieth	60th: Sixtieth	80th: Eightieth	100th: Hundredth

Ordinal Numbers 1 to 20

Ordinal numbers from 1 to 20 are different from the rest. After the number 20, a repeated pattern of ordinal numbers can be observed. Ordinal numbers from 1 to 20 can be listed as follows. 1 - First, 2 - Second, 3 - Third, 4 - Fourth, 5 - Fifth, 6 - Sixth, 7 - Seventh, 8 - Eighth, 9 - Ninth, 10 - Tenth, 11 - Eleventh, 12 - Twelfth, 13 - Thirteenth, 14 - Fourteenth, 15 - Fifteenth, 16 - Sixteenth, 17 - Seventeenth, 18 - Eighteenth, 19 - Nineteenth, 20 - Twentieth.

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Ordinal Numbers Examples

Example 1: What is the 3rd letter in the word: SUMMERS?

Solution:

In the given word, SUMMERS, the first letter is 'S'. The second letter is 'U'. Similarly, we count the position of the letters in order, like, first, second, third, and so on which denotes ordinal numbers. So, we can see that the letter 'M' comes in the 3rd position. Therefore, the third letter in the given word is 'M'.
Example 2: Sam, Jenny, Mary, and Jack are standing in a queue in the given order. Who is in the fourth position?

Solution:

From the given information, we can say that: Sam is in the first place, Jenny is in the second place, Mary is in the third place, and Jack is in the fourth place. Therefore, Jack is standing in the fourth position. Here, 4th is an ordinal number because it denotes the position of Jack.
Example 3: State true or false with respect to ordinal numbers.

a.) An ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object.

b.) Ordinal numbers are written as 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, and so on.

Solution:

a.) True, an ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object.

b.) True, ordinal numbers are written as 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, and so on.

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Practice Questions on Ordinal Numbers

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FAQs on Ordinal Numbers

What Does Ordinal Number mean?

Ordinal numbers are the numbers that specify the position of objects. For example, when we say that the books are kept on the 3^rd shelf, here 3rd is an ordinal number. Similarly, first, second, twentieth, fiftieth, and so on are ordinal numbers.

What is the Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers?

Cardinal numbers denote the count of any object. For example, natural numbers like 1, 2 3, and so on are cardinal numbers. On the other hand, ordinal numbers denote the position or place of an object. For example, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and so on, are ordinal numbers.

How to Write Dates with Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers are used to mention the dates in English. For example, if we need to write the date of Christmas, we write the month and then the ordinal number of the day. In this case, we say that Christmas is on December 25th. Here, 25th is an ordinal number.

Is Zero an Ordinal Number?

No, 0 cannot be considered an ordinal number. Specifying the position of anything as 0^th or zeroth does not give a logical explanation.

How to Write Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers have a suffix added at the end. They can be written as first, second, third, and so on when expressed in words. When ordinal numbers are expressed as numerals, the last two letters of the words are added to the respective numbers, like, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and so on.

Why do we use Ordinal Numbers?

We use ordinal numbers for specifying the position or order of something. For example, the pens are kept in the 3^rd drawer from the top, or, Ria stays on the second floor of the apartment. Here, the respective numbers specify the position or order of the object or people, whatever the case may be.

What are Ordinal Numbers From 1 to 10?

The ordinal numbers from 1 to 10 are as follows: 1st: First, 2nd: Second, 3rd: Third, 4th: Fourth, 5th: Fifth, 6th: Sixth, 7th: Seventh, 8th: Eighth, 9th: Ninth, and 10th: Tenth.

What is the Ordinal Number of 1?

The ordinal of 1 is written as First. In the numeral form, it is represented as 1^st.

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