Distinguishing ordinal and cardinal numbers

Design by Delta publications

key notes :

What are Cardinal Numbers?
  • Cardinal numbers are counting numbers.
  • They tell us “how many” of something there are.
  • Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Example Sentences:
  • I have 3 apples.
  • There are 5 dogs in the park.
What are Ordinal Numbers?
  • Ordinal numbers tell us the position or order of things.
  • They answer the question “which one?”
  • Examples: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Example Sentences:
  • I finished the race in 1st place.
  • The cat is sitting in the 3rd chair.
Key Differences

| Cardinal Numbers | Ordinal Numbers | |——————|———————| | Counting | Position/Order | | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th |

Practice Questions
  1. Write the cardinal number for: “There are ___ pencils on the table.”
  2. Write the ordinal number for: “She is the ___ student in line.”
  3. Circle the ordinal number: 4, 2nd, 7, 5th
Fun Activity
  • Line up 5 objects (like pencils or crayons).
  • Count them using cardinal numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • Now, point to each and say their position using ordinal numbers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th.
Remember:

Ordinal = Which position

Cardinal = How many

Learn with an example

➡️ Which of the following are cardinal numbers? (There may be more than one.)

  • thirty-five
  • fifty-five
  • 78
  • 93rd
  • These are cardinal numbers:
  • thirty-five
    fifty-five
    78
  • This is not a cardinal number. This is an ordinal number:
  • 93rd

➡️ Which of the following are cardinal numbers? (There may be more than one.)

  • 74th
  • 65th
  • 14
  • twenty-ninth
  • This is a cardinal number:
  • 14
  • These are not cardinal numbers. These are ordinal numbers:
  • 74th
    65th
    twenty-ninth

➡️ Which of the following are cardinal numbers? (There may be more than one.)

  • 26
  • thirty-two
  • 63
  • 45
  • These are all cardinal numbers:
  • 26
    thirty-two
    63
    45

let’s practice!