The Ordinal Numbers (Los números ordinales) Éste es mi primer viaje

The Ordinal Numbers (Los números ordinales) Éste es mi primer viaje a Machu Picchu. La primera vez, ¿eh? Te va a gustar mucho.

The Ordinal Numbers Ordinal numbers vs. cardinal numbers Ordinal numbers are those that refer to the order of things, that is, first, second, third, and so on. It may help to remember that ordinal refers to order. Cardinal numbers, by contrast, are those that are used for counting: one, two, three, and so on. It may be useful to think cardinal means counting. In Spanish, ordinal numbers beyond tenth are rarely used in everyday speech or writing. The ordinal numbers first through tenth are shown on the following slide.

The Ordinal Numbers primero/a first sexto/a sixth segundo/a second séptimo/a seventh tercero/a cuarto/a third fourth octavo/a eighth noveno/a ninth quinto/a fifth décimo/a tenth Plural forms exist as well (primeros, primeras, quintos, quintas, etc.), but are less frequently used.

To simplify our understanding of ordinal numbers, let’s start with a series of ten zeroes and number them from left to right. Ordinal numbers agree in gender and number. Cero is, of course, a masculine noun. el el el el el primer tercer quinto séptimo noveno cero cero cero cero cero 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 el el segundo cuarto cero cero el sexto cero el octavo cero el décimo cero Note that primero and tercero shorten to primer and tercer, respectively, before a masculine singular noun.

When the noun, in this case cero, is omitted, the ordinal numbers become pronouns. Notice that primer and tercer now revert to their full forms, primero and tercero. el el el primer o tercero quinto cero cero cero el el séptimo noveno cero cero 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 el el el el el segundo cuarto sexto octavo décimo cero cero cero cero cero In English, we would say “the first, the second,” etc., instead of “the first zero, the second zero,” etc.

For the feminine forms of the ordinal numbers, we’ll use a series of ten of the letter equis, a feminine noun. la la la primera tercera quinta equis equis equis la la séptima novena equis equis X X X X X X X X X X la la segunda cuarta equis equis la sexta equis la octava equis la décima equis Note that none of the feminine forms has a shortened form.

Thus, all ten of the pronominal forms are the same as the adjectival forms. la la la primera tercera quinta equis equis equis la la séptima novena equis equis X X X X X X X X X X la la segunda cuarta equis equis la sexta equis la octava equis la décima equis Note that none of the feminine forms has a shortened form.

Numbers after décimo/décima la la décima equis doce (la duodécima equis equis) etcétera . . . . X X X . . . etcétera la equis once (la undécima equis) From eleventh on, we revert to the use of the cardinal numbers, although ordinal numbers beyond eleventh exist.

Numbers after décimo/décima Notice the following example In everyday speech or writing: La pareja celebró su aniversario veinticinco. The couple celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. In these cases, the cardinal number follows the noun . . . . . . whereas the ordinal number precedes the noun. In technical, literary, or documentary terms: La pareja celebró su vigésimo quinto aniversario.

Examples of ordinal number usage Clarita compró el segundo vestido. Clarita bought the second dress. Éstas son las primeras rebajas del año. These are the first sales of the year. La tienda está en el tercer piso. The store is on the third floor. Es el primer mostrador a la izquierda. It’s the first counter to the left.

Ordinal numbers are also used with the names of famous people, such as kings or other leaders. Notice that the ordinal numbers are capitalized in these cases. Carlos V Carlos Quinto Enrique VIII Enrique Octavo BUT: Alfonso XIII Alfonso Trece Remember, above tenth we revert to cardinal numbers.

FIN