English Numbers

Ordinal, Cardinal, and Nominal

We use English numbers to...

• count people or things
• put things in order
• identify people or things
• as determiners

Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses

Skip to "Rules for Writing Numbers."

Types of numbers

There are three common types of English numbers:

1. cardinal (showing quantity)
   
   
2. ordinal (showing order)
   
   
3. nominal (showing identity)

English Number	Cardinal	Ordinal	Ordinal Abbreviations
1	one	first	1st
2	two	second	2nd
3	three	third	3rd
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	ten	tenth	10th
11	eleven	eleventh	11th
12	twelve	twelfth	12th
13	thirteen	thirteenth	13th
14	fourteen	fourteenth	14th
15	fifteen	fifteenth	15th
16	sixteen	sixteenth	16th
17	seventeen	seventeenth	17th
18	eighteen	eighteenth	18th
19	nineteen	nineteenth	19th
20	twenty	twentieth	20th
22	twenty-two	twenty-second	22nd
25	twenty-five	twenty-fifth	25th
30	thirty	thirtieth	30th
40	forty	fortieth	40th
50	fifty	fiftieth	50th
60	sixty	sixtieth	60th
70	seventy	seventieth	70th
80	eighty	eightieth	80th
90	ninety	ninetieth	90th
100	one hundred	one hundredth	100th
125	one hundred twenty-five	one hundred twenty-fifth	125th

1. Cardinal numbers 

Cardinal numbers are also known as "counting numbers" and are used to count things. Cardinal numbers tell us "how many."

Examples:

• We have two dogs.
  
  
• I have $15.00.
  
  
• There are 12 birds.
  
  
• He is six years old today.
  

2. Ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers are used to tell the order of things. They tell us level or position in a group.

Examples:

• I am third in line.
  
  
• That was your fifth cookie!
  
  
• Happy 50th birthday!
  
  
• First, combine eggs, sugar, flour, and salt.
  
  
• He finished first in the race!
  
  

3. Nominal numbers

Nominal numbers are used to name and identify things. Nominal numbers can be single or grouped numbers.

Nominal numbers include:

• social security numbers
  
  
• bank account numbers
  
  
• driver's license numbers
  
  
• employee and student identification numbers
  
  
• zip codes
  
  (Las Vegas, NV 89101)
  
  
• telephone numbers
  
  (1-800-562-0025)
  
  
• numbers of a train or bus route
  
  (Take route 105 to get to the grocery store.)
  
  
• player numbers
  
  (Number 40 has the ball!)

Determiners

Cardinal and Ordinal English numbers can be used as determiners to help identify nouns. They tell (determine) how much or which one.

Examples of numbers as determiners:

• We invited fifty people to our wedding.
  
  
• Jenny got first place at the art contest.
  
  
• Add 1 egg to the cookie batter.
  

Rules for writing numbers

Do you spell out a number or use its numeral form?

Here are some general rules to help you.

1. When to spell out numbers

A) Spell out numbers less than 10.

• one
• two
• five
• 15
• 16
• 150
  

B) Don't begin a sentence with a numeral. Spell it out.

• Incorrect: 15 children were at the concert.
  
  
• Correct: Fifteen children were at the concert.
  
  

D) Spell out numbers in most formal writing.

E) Spell out numbers when writing time with "o'clock."

• Incorrect: School starts at 8 o'clock each day.
  
  
• Correct: School starts at eight o'clock each day.
  

2. When to use numerals in writing

A) Use numerals with a set of numbers or nominal numbers.

B) Use numerals with fractions and percents in tables, mathematics, and science.

C) Use numerals for measurements.

D) Use numeral for recipes.

E) Most advertisements use numerals.

F) Use numerals with time written with a.m. and p.m.

G) Internet, newspaper, and magazine headlines and articles usually use numerals.

These were examples and rules of English Numbers. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Get our ESL Books.

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