Ordinal numbers
Nombres ordinaux
- Learn the ordinal numbers.
- Ordinal numbers: "Premier, Deuxième..."
Learn French ordinal numbers like premier, deuxième, and troisième to describe order and position, for example: "Je suis le premier" or "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. |
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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
This lesson focuses on the use of ordinal numbers — words like premier, deuxième, troisième, which indicate position or order in a sequence (first, second, third, etc.). Ordinal numbers are essential for expressing rankings, dates, floors in a building, chapters in a book, and more.
Key Ordinal Numbers
- premier / première (first)
- deuxième (second)
- troisième (third)
- quatrième (fourth)
- cinquième (fifth)
- sixième (sixth)
- septièm e (seventh)
- huitième (eighth)
- neuvième (ninth)
- dixième (tenth)
- dernier / dernière (last)
Usage Highlights
Ordinal numbers are used to specify order in various contexts, for instance:
- Je suis le premier dans la file d'attente. (I am first in the queue.)
- Elle habite au troisième étage de l'immeuble. (She lives on the third floor of the building.)
- Le huitième chapitre du livre est intéressant. (The eighth chapter of the book is interesting.)
- Mon anniversaire est le dixième du mois. (My birthday is on the tenth of the month.)
- Le dernier bus part à vingt-deux heures. (The last bus leaves at 10 p.m.)
Practical Examples in Context
At the Hotel: Booking a Room
Use ordinal numbers to specify floor and room:
- Je voudrais réserver une chambre au troisième étage. (I would like to book a room on the third floor.)
- La troisième chambre est disponible ce week-end. (The third room is available this weekend.)
At the Office: Finding a Meeting Room
Ordinal numbers help indicate locations:
- Où est la première salle de réunion ? (Where is the first meeting room?)
- Elle est au premier étage, à gauche. (It is on the first floor, to the left.)
At the Restaurant: Ordering Dishes
Use ordinal numbers to order items by their menu position:
- Je voudrais la première entrée et le troisième plat principal. (I would like the first starter and the third main dish.)
Verb Focus: Se rappeler (To Remember)
The reflexive verb se rappeler is often used with ordinal numbers when recalling dates or events. Its present tense conjugation is:
- Je me rappelle
- Tu te rappelles
- Il/Elle/On se rappelle
- Nous nous rappelons
- Vous vous rappelez
- Ils/Elles se rappellent
Example: Je me rappelle le cinquième anniversaire. (I remember the fifth anniversary.)
Important Notes and Differences with English
Unlike English, French ordinal numbers agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (e.g., premier for masculine, première for feminine). Also, premier and dernier belong to a distinct category of ordinal words indicating a special position (first and last), unlike others that follow a more standard pattern.
In English, ordinal numbers are often written with suffixes (1st, 2nd, 3rd), but in French, these are words and sometimes abbreviated as 1er, 2e, 3e, etc.
Useful Phrases to Remember
- Le premier étage — the first floor
- La deuxième chambre — the second room
- Le dernier bus — the last bus
- Je me rappelle — I remember
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