Numbersis the way we refer to numbers in English language. Numbers are used in different situations in our daily lives. We have the cardinal numbers (cardinal numbers) and the ordinal numbers (ordinal numbers). In this article, you will see a list of each of these numbers and understand how they are formed.
Read too: Measures — units of measurement in English
Topics in this article
- 1 - Types of numbers
- 2 - List of cardinal numbers in English
- 3 - List of ordinal numbers in English
- 4 - Solved exercises on numbers in English
Types of numbers
In English, we have ordinal numbers (ordinal numbers) and cardinal numbers (cardinal numbers):
- Cardinal numbers: used to indicate quantities. Example: He has seven think. (He has seven pens.)
- Ordinal numbers: used to indicate order or hierarchy. Example: He was first placed in the competition. (He placed first in the competition.)
List of cardinal numbers in English
Cardinal numbers | |
0 |
zero |
1 |
one |
2 |
two |
3 |
three |
4 |
four |
5 |
five |
6 |
six |
7 |
seven |
8 |
eight |
9 |
nine |
10 |
have |
11 |
eleven |
12 |
twelve |
13 |
thirteen |
14 |
fourteen |
15 |
fifteen |
16 |
sixteen |
17 |
seventeen |
18 |
eighteen |
19 |
nineteen |
20 |
twenty |
21 |
twenty-one |
26 |
twenty-six |
30 |
thirty |
40 |
forty |
50 |
fifty |
60 |
sixty |
63 |
sixty-three |
70 |
seventy |
80 |
eighty |
90 |
ninety |
100 |
one hundred /a hundred |
136 |
one hundred and thirty-six |
200 |
two hundred |
500 |
five hundred |
900 |
nine hundred |
1000 |
one thousand /a thousand |
10,000 |
ten thousand |
200,000 |
two hundred thousand |
1,000,000,000 |
one million |
1,000,000,000,000 |
one billion |
It is important to understand that the way cardinal numbers are formed occurs by convention. Understand better how they are organized below:
- From 1 to 12, there are no rules. From 13 to 19, we have the ending “teen”. Teenagers are called teenagers because they correspond, in age, to these numbers.
- Next, we will have hyphens in the numbers. For example, 22, which is: twenty-two.
- Then, 30, 40 etc., with endings in “ty”.Thirty, forty, fifty etc. Note that the four loses the “u”: forty.
- So, with 100, we have one more change: hundred. And this is when the use of and. For example, 110, which is: one hundred and ten.
- We can use commas to separate the units, as we saw in the list, but this is optional. Points are only used for decimals and are mandatory. For example, 0.9, which is: zero point nine tenths.
- For the unit of thousands, we will have the thousand.
- Right away, million (million) and billion (billion).
Important: Typically, we use cardinal numbers without articles.
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List of ordinal numbers in English
Ordinal numbers | |
1st |
first |
2nd |
second |
3rd |
third |
4th |
fourth |
5th |
fifth |
6th |
Sixth |
7th |
seventh |
8th |
eight |
9th |
ninth |
10th |
tenth |
11th |
eleventh |
12th |
twelfth |
13th |
thirteenth |
14th |
fourteenth |
15th |
fifteenth |
16th |
sixteenth |
17th |
seventeenth |
18th |
eighteenth |
19th |
nineteenth |
20th |
twentieth |
21st |
twenty-first |
22nd |
twenty-second |
23rd |
twenty-third |
30th |
thirtieth |
33rd |
thirty-third |
40th |
fortieth |
49th |
forty-nineth |
50th |
fiftieth |
60th |
sixtieth |
70th |
seventieth |
80th |
eightieth |
90th |
ninetieth |
100th |
one hundredth |
120th |
one hundred and twentieth |
133rd |
one hundred and thirty-third |
600th |
six hundredth |
1000th |
one thousandth |
100,000th |
one hundred thousandth |
1,000,000th |
one millionth |
3,020,323rd |
three million twenty thousand three hundred twenty-third |
1,000,000,000th |
one billionth |
It is important to understand that the way in which ordinal numbers are formed and how they are abbreviated also occurs by convention. Understand more about this below:
- The list starts with a specific logic, with the short form made at the end of each word.
1 – first – 1st
2 – second – 2nd
3 – third – 3rd
- Next, most ordinal forms are made by adding “th” to the end of the cardinal number name. We have some exceptions: 5, 8 (in which only the “h” is placed), 9, 12, 20, and those ending in 1, 2 or 3, starting with the number 20. The abbreviated form is done in the same way: we use the end of the word.
4 – four – fourth – 4th
5 – five – fifth – 5th
6 – six – Sixth – 6th
7 – seven – seventh – 7th
8 – eight – eighth – 8th
9 – nine – ninth – 9th
10 – have – tenth – 10th
11 – eleven – eleventh – 11th
12 – twelve – twelfth – 12th
13 – thirteen – thirteenth – 13th
14 – fourteen – fourteenth – 14th
.
.
.
20 – twenty – twentieth – 20th
21 – twenty-one – twenty-first – 21st
.
.
.
25 – twenty-fifth – 25th
Note that the short form of 21 will be the same as 1st. This is equally true for 2nd and 3rd. O twenty, thirty etc. will remain as in the cardinal form.
See too: Mathematical operations — mathematical operations in English
Solved exercises about numbers in English
Question 1
What is the sequence of 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th written in numerals:
A) fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh.
B) forth, fifth, sixth, sevth.
C) fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh.
D) fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth.
Resolution:
Alternative C
We can now eliminate the letter D, as it starts with the ordinal 5th. Then, we eliminated the letter B, as the spelling is wrong. The correct spellings are in A and C. Soon after, we have the 5th ordinal, which deviates from a standard: the correct one is fifth.
Question 2
Regarding the use of commas and the use of periods in numbers in the English language:
A) The first is optional, the second is mandatory for decimals.
B) Both are optional.
C) Both are mandatory.
D) The first is mandatory, the second is optional.
Resolution:
Alternative A
We can eliminate B and C, as only one of the elements is mandatory. Commas are optional, and periods are mandatory for decimals. We only have A and D left; Now, the correct alternative: A.
By Beta Maria Xavier Reis
English teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
REIS, Beta Maria Xavier. "Numbers in English (Numbers)"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/numeros-em-ingles-numbers.htm. Accessed September 10, 2023.
Check the conjugation of the verb effect in all possible verb tenses.
Check the conjugation of the verb effect in all possible verb tenses.
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