Pralingo

Spanish · A1 · Grammar

Using ordinal numbers correctly

You already know the ordinal numbers from primero to décimo as words from the topic "Numbers". Here you learn how to use them in a sentence: before a , agreeing with the , and with the short forms primer and tercer. This lets you say which floor you live on, which street someone should turn into, or where something comes in an order.

Quick review: 1st to 10th

primero (1st), segundo (2nd), tercero (3rd), cuarto (4th), quinto (5th), sexto (6th), séptimo (7th), octavo (8th), noveno (9th), décimo (10th). In some of them you can easily recognise the cardinal number, for example cuatro → cuarto or seis → sexto. Others look quite different: uno → primero, dos → segundo, cinco → quinto.

Before the and agreeing with it

The ordinal number normally goes before the , usually with an . Like an adjective, it agrees with the : -o, -a, -os, -as. So el segundo piso, but la segunda calle; in the los primeros días and las primeras semanas.

primer and tercer

Before a , primero and tercero drop the -o: el primer piso, el tercer día, el primer plato. Before and in the , the full form stays: la primera calle, la tercera planta, los primeros días.

Without a after it, you keep primero and tercero: ¿Quién es el primero? – Yo soy el primero.

Ordinal numbers in everyday life

For floors you say el piso or la planta – so el piso can also mean "floor", not just "flat": Vivo en el tercer piso. El baño está en la primera planta. In directions you count the streets: Gira en la segunda calle a la derecha. And for an order: Es mi primer día en Madrid.

Examples

  • el primer piso
  • la segunda calle
  • Vivo en el tercer piso.
  • Gira en la segunda calle a la derecha.
  • Es mi primer día en Madrid.

Exercises

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 1 of 7

Which cardinal number is behind it?

Match each ordinal number with its cardinal number.

Which cardinal number does this ordinal belong to?

Now you use the ordinal numbers with a noun. Each time, look at the noun that follows: is it masculine or feminine? And is there a noun after it at all?

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 2 of 7

primero, primer or primera?

Choose the correct form for each sentence.

Mi oficina está en el piso.
Gira en la calle a la derecha.
Hoy es mi día de trabajo.
En la , Pedro es el .
Vivo en el piso.
El baño está en la planta.
A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 3 of 7

Correct or incorrect?

Sort each phrase into the right group.

Does the ordinal number match the noun?

el primer piso
el primero piso
la primera calle
la primer calle
el tercer día
el segunda piso
la cuarta planta
los primeros días
las primer semanas
el quinto piso

correct

incorrect

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 4 of 7

Which floor?

Choose the correct sentence.

How do you say: "I live on the third floor."?

Now without options: you write the ordinal numbers yourself. The noun that follows shows you which form you need – in the plural too.

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 5 of 7

Floors, streets, order

Write the correct ordinal number for the number in brackets.

Gira en la (2) calle a la izquierda.
Mi oficina está en el (1) piso.
Vivimos en la (4) planta.
Octubre es el (10) mes del año.
Hoy es mi (3) clase de español.
Los (1) días en Madrid son difíciles.

In directions or on the phone you only hear ordinal numbers briefly. Here you practise recognising them reliably in a sentence.

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 6 of 7

Which floor, which street?

Listen to the sentence and choose the matching number.

Which position is meant?

0 / 5

A1GrammarIntroduction to ordinal numbers

Exercise 7 of 7

Is the sentence correct?

Correct the sentence.

Gira en la primer calle a la derecha.

Well done! You can now use the ordinal numbers from primero to décimo in a sentence: they go before the noun and agree with it (-o, -a, -os, -as), and before a masculine singular noun it's primer and tercer.