Introduction
Numbers are a part of our everyday conversations — from telling our age and phone number to talking about dates and rankings.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use and pronounce numbers in English correctly.
We’ll explore both cardinal numbers (used for counting) and ordinal numbers (used for order and position), with plenty of examples and tips to help you sound natural and confident.
🧮 1. Types of Numbers in English
There are two main types of numbers in English:
- Cardinal Numbers → used for counting things.
Example: one, two, three, four… - Ordinal Numbers → used for ordering or ranking things.
Example: first, second, third, fourth…
Let’s look at both types in detail.
🔢 2. Cardinal Numbers in English
Definition and Use
Cardinal numbers are used to count things, tell your age, give phone numbers, say years, and show quantity — they answer the question “How many?”
Common Uses
✳️ Counting Things
I have three friends.
There are thirty-one days in July.
✳️ Talking About Age
I am twenty-three years old.
My sister is thirty-seven years old.
✳️ Giving Phone Numbers
When reading phone numbers in English, we usually say each digit separately.
Our phone number is four-eight-one, three-two-four-zero.
(Written: 481-3240)
✳️ Saying Years
Years before 2000 are usually divided into two parts:
1975 → nineteen seventy-five
1492 → fourteen ninety-two
For 2000 and beyond, we normally say:
2000 → two thousand
2001 → two thousand and one
2024 → two thousand and twenty-four
💡 3. Large Numbers in English
Here’s how big numbers are said in English:
| Number | Written Form | Spoken Form |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | one thousand | one thousand |
| 10,000 | ten thousand | ten thousand |
| 100,000 | one hundred thousand | one hundred thousand |
| 1,000,000 | one million | one million |
| 1,000,000,000 | one billion | one billion |
💡 Tip:
In British English, we often add “and” before the last part of a number:
→ two hundred and fifty-six.
In American English, “and” is usually omitted:
→ two hundred fifty-six.
🥇 4. Ordinal Numbers in English
Definition and Use
Ordinal numbers are numbers that describe the position of something in a sequence, rather than the quantity. They tell you the order, such as first, second, third, fourth, and so on.
Here’s a breakdown of what that means:
Position: They indicate rank or position in a list, competition, or series. For example, “He finished first in the race,” or “This is the third book in the series.”
How to Form Ordinal Numbers
In most cases, you form an ordinal number by adding “-th” to the end of a cardinal number.
Suffixes: Most ordinal numbers are formed by adding suffixes like “-th,” “-st,” “-nd,” or “-rd” to cardinal numbers (the counting numbers like one, two, three).
1st (first)
2nd (second)
3rd (third)
4th (fourth)
5th (fifth)
21st (twenty-first)
100th (hundredth)
| Cardinal | Ordinal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st – first | It’s my first day at work. |
| 2 | 2nd – second | She lives on the second floor. |
| 3 | 3rd – third | This is my third attempt. |
| 4 | 4th – fourth | The fourth chapter is my favorite. |
| 5 | 5th – fifth | I finished in fifth place. |
Exceptions: The numbers 1, 2, and 3, and any numbers ending in 1, 2, or 3 (like 21, 32, 43, etc.), are irregular in their suffix usage (“first,” “second,” “third”).
🗓️ When to Use Ordinal Numbers
- Dates and birthdays:
My birthday is on the 27th of January. (Twenty-seventh of January) - Ranking or order:
Liverpool came second in the football league last year. - Building floors:
His office is on the tenth floor. - Celebrations:
He had a big party for his twenty-first birthday. - Centuries:
Shakespeare was born in the 16th century. - Names of kings/queens:
Written: Henry VIII → Spoken: Henry the Eighth.
🗣️ 5. Pronunciation Tips
- “th” in fourth, fifth, sixth is soft — put your tongue between your teeth and blow gently.
- Be careful not to confuse thirteen (13) with thirty (30) — stress on the second syllable for thirteen, and on the first for thirty.
- Practice aloud: fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth.
🧠 6. Common Mistakes
❌ I have twenty years.
✅ I am twenty years old.
❌ The class is in the five floor.
✅ The class is on the fifth floor.
❌ He’s the three student.
✅ He’s the third student.
📝 7. Practice Time
Try to answer these questions aloud:
- How old are you?
- What’s your phone number?
- What year were you born?
- What’s today’s date?
- Who came first in your last test?
Fill in the blanks:
- My house is on the ______ floor.
- She finished ______ in the marathon.
- There are ______ days in a week.
- My brother is ______ years old.
- The company was founded in ______ (1999).
Say it aloud (Pronunciation Practice):
- 1988 → __________
- 2007 → __________
- 2025 → __________
💬 Write your answers in the comments below or share them with your teacher!
🧭 8. Summary
| Type | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Numbers | Counting, quantity | I have two cats. / She is twenty-five. |
| Ordinal Numbers | Order, sequence | He came first. / It’s the third chapter. |
✅ 9. Check Your Understanding
Can you tell the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers now?
Try to write three sentences using each type in your notebook!
“Excellent job mastering numbers in English!
Ready to build further?
Continue to the English Alphabet (A to Z) to learn all the letters and improve your reading and spelling skills.”
🎯 10. Next Step: Keep Learning!
✅ Continue your English journey with the next lesson:
👉 Telling the Time in English
and keep improving your English step by step!
🎧 You can also download the “Numbers in English” audio practice to train your pronunciation.