Ordinal numbers
Nombres ordinaux
- Learn the ordinal numbers.
- Ordinal numbers: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Learn French ordinal numbers like premier, deuxième, troisième, and dernier to describe order and position. Master practical phrases such as "Je suis le premier" and "Elle habite au troisième étage."
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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Lesson Overview: Ordinal Numbers in French
This lesson focuses on understanding and using ordinal numbers in French, essential for stating positions, dates, and ordering items. You'll learn common ordinal numbers such as premier, deuxième, and troisième, along with how to apply them in everyday contexts like telling dates, describing floors in buildings, or ordering items on a menu.
Key Ordinal Numbers
French ordinal numbers mostly form by adding suffixes to cardinal numbers. Some important examples include:
- premier / première (first) – a special form distinct from the rest
- deuxième (second)
- troisième (third)
- quatrième (fourth)
- cinquième (fifth)
- dernier / dernière (last) – used to indicate the final position
Usage in Context
Ordinal numbers are used extensively in French to describe order, rank, or sequence:
- Identifying floors: Elle habite au troisième étage de l'immeuble.
- Dates: Mon anniversaire est le dixième du mois.
- Chapters or sections: Le huitième chapitre du livre est intéressant.
Expressions and Phrases
Familiar phrases in French using ordinal numbers include:
- Je suis le premier dans la file d'attente. (I am first in line.)
- Le dernier bus part à vingt-deux heures. (The last bus leaves at 10 PM.)
- Tu te rappelles le cinquième jour de la fête ? (Do you remember the fifth day of the party?)
Special Notes on Usage
Unlike English, where ordinal numbers often end in -th (except for first, second, third), French uses distinct spelling rules and some irregular forms like premier. Also, French ordinal numbers agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify (premier étage but première fois).
Verb Highlight: "Se rappeler"
The reflexive verb se rappeler (to remember) frequently appears with ordinal numbers in daily speech. Example conjugation in present tense:
- Je me rappelle
- Tu te rappelles
- Il/Elle se rappelle
- Nous nous rappelons
- Vous vous rappelez
- Ils/Elles se rappellent
Comparing French and English Ordinals
In English, ordinal numbers are primarily formed with suffixes (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th). French uses specific words that have gender and number agreement, such as premier/première and quatrième. The position of the ordinal number is always before the noun in French (e.g., le deuxième étage), whereas in English it can be before or after depending on structure.
Useful phrases and their English equivalents:
- Le premier étage – The first floor
- La troisième chambre – The third room
- Le dernier bus – The last bus
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