Ordinal numbers
Nombres ordinaux
- Learn the ordinal numbers.
- Ordinal numbers: "Premier, Deuxième..."
This lesson introduces French ordinal numbers like premier, deuxième, troisième, and dernier, focusing on their usage to indicate order and positions. It covers practical examples in daily contexts such as ordering in restaurants, booking hotel rooms, and workplace conversations. The lesson also includes grammar practice with the reflexive verb se rappeler, important for remembering dates and sequences. Students will learn key differences between French and English ordinal numbers, including gender agreement and special terms. Suitable for A1 beginners, this lesson builds foundational vocabulary and understanding for natural communication in French.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (12) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify these words into two categories according to their usage: standard ordinal numbers and words indicating a particular position.
Nombres ordinaux standards
Mots indiquant une position particulière
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Dixième
Tenth
2
Dernier
Last
3
Se rappeler
To remember
4
Huitième
Eighth
5
Quatrième
Fourth
Exercice 5: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- On which floor does each person live? (On which floor does each person live?)
- Do you live in an apartment? On which floor do you live? (Do you live in an apartment? On which floor do you live?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Stevan habite au neuvième étage. Stevan lives on the ninth floor. |
|
Catherine habite au dixième étage. Catherine lives on the tenth floor. |
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Giulia habite au premier étage. Giulia lives on the first floor. |
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Vous vivez dans un appartement au sixième étage. You live in an apartment on the sixth floor. |
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À quel étage habitez-vous ? On what floor do you live? |
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J'habite au rez-de-chaussée. I live on the ground floor. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Je ___ rappelle la date de notre réunion, elle est fixée au quatrième mardi du mois.
(I ___ remember the date of our meeting, it is set for the fourth Tuesday of the month.)2. Tu ___ rappelles souvent les événements importants du travail ?
(You ___ often remember the important events at work?)3. Il ___ rappelle que la première présentation a eu lieu au printemps.
(He ___ remembers that the first presentation took place in spring.)4. Nous ___ rappelons le dernier jour de travail avant les vacances.
(We ___ remember the last working day before the holidays.)Exercise 8: An important meeting
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Se rappeler - To remember
Présent
- Je me rappelle
- Tu te rappelles
- Il/Elle/On se rappelle
- Nous nous rappelons
- Vous vous rappelez
- Ils/Elles se rappellent
Se rappeler - To remember
Passé composé
- Je me suis rappelé(e)
- Tu t'es rappelé(e)
- Il/Elle/On s'est rappelé(e)
- Nous nous sommes rappelé(e)s
- Vous vous êtes rappelé(e)(s)
- Ils/Elles se sont rappelé(e)s
Exercise 9: Les nombres ordinaux: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Ordinal numbers: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Show translation Show answerspremière, quatrième, sixième, troisième, huitième, deuxième, cinquième, septième
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.11.2 Grammaire
Les nombres ordinaux: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Ordinal numbers: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Se rappeler to remember Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') je me rappelle / je m'rappelle | I remember |
| tu te rappelles | You remember |
| il/elle/on se rappelle | He/she/one remembers |
| nous nous rappelons | We remember |
| vous vous rappelez | do you remember |
| ils/elles se rappellent | They remember |
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Understanding Ordinal Numbers in French
In this lesson, you will learn how to use French ordinal numbers to express positions, order, and ranks in everyday situations. Ordinal numbers indicate the order of things, such as first, second, third, and so on. Examples include premier (first), deuxième (second), troisième (third), and dernier (last).
Common Ordinal Numbers
- Premier / Première – first
- Deuxième – second
- Troisième – third
- Quatrième – fourth
- Cinquième – fifth
- Dernier – last
Using Ordinal Numbers in Context
You will find these numbers used to describe locations, dates, and sequences, such as:
- Je suis le premier dans la file d'attente. (I am first in line.)
- Le dixième jour du mois est un jour férié ici. (The tenth day of the month is a holiday here.)
- Elle habite au troisième étage de l'immeuble. (She lives on the third floor of the building.)
Practice with Everyday Situations
You will also engage in dialogues relevant to hotel reservations, office meetings, and restaurant orders, making use of ordinal numbers naturally, for example, choosing the troisième chambre (third room) or the premier plat (first dish) on a menu.
Important Notes on Grammar
The lesson emphasizes the verb se rappeler (to remember), which often appears in context with ordinal numbers, including its conjugation forms and reflexive pronouns, offering exercises for practice.
Comparison with English
Unlike English, where ordinal numbers are formed by adding “-th” (with some exceptions like first, second, third), French ordinal numbers vary in ending and gender agreement, e.g., premier (masculine) vs. première (feminine). The word dernier means “last,” a concept included in ordinal expressions in French but not always directly translated as an ordinal in English. Key phrases like au premier étage (on the first floor) mirror English usage but require attention to gender and article use in French.
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