Ordinal numbers
Números ordinales
- Learn the ordinal numbers.
- Ordinal numbers
This lesson introduces Spanish ordinal numbers such as primero (first), segundo (second), and tercero (third), focusing on their everyday use in locations, order, and dates. You will learn regular ordinals like cuarto (fourth) and quinto (fifth) through practical examples like en el tercer piso (on the third floor) and el segundo lunes (the second Monday).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (11) 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 form: regular ordinals and irregular ordinals.
Ordinales regulares
Ordinales irregulares
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
El sexto
The sixth
2
El primero
The first
3
El segundo
The second
4
El octavo
The eighth
5
El cuarto
The fourth
Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- 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 vive en el noveno piso. Stevan lives on the ninth floor. |
|
Catherine vive en el décimo piso. Catherine lives on the tenth floor. |
|
Giulia vive en el primer piso. Giulia lives on the first floor. |
|
Vives en un apartamento en el sexto piso. You live in an apartment on the sixth floor. |
|
¿En qué piso vives? On what floor do you live? |
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Vivo en la planta baja. 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. Yo ___ que el primero de mayo es un día festivo en España.
(I ___ that the first of May is a holiday in Spain.)2. En el segundo trimestre, ___ hacer buen tiempo en muchas regiones.
(In the second quarter, ___ the weather is usually good in many regions.)3. El tercer día de la semana ___ reunirnos con los amigos.
(On the third day of the week ___ we usually meet with friends.)4. Yo ___ que la quinta estación es el otoño, con mucho color.
(I ___ that the fifth season is autumn, with a lot of color.)Exercise 8: A meeting to remember important dates
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Recordar - Remember
Presente
- yo recuerdo
- tú recuerdas
- él/ella/usted recuerda
- nosotros recordamos
- vosotros recordáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes recuerdan
Tener - Have
Presente
- yo tengo
- tú tienes
- él/ella/usted tiene
- nosotros tenemos
- vosotros tenéis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen
Organizar - Organize
Presente
- yo organizo
- tú organizas
- él/ella/usted organiza
- nosotros organizamos
- vosotros organizáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes organizan
Exercise 9: Los números ordinales
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Ordinal numbers
Show translation Show answersséptimo, quinto, primer, sexto, cuarta, primero, tercer, octavo
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Recordar to remember Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) recuerdo | I remember |
| (tú) recuerdas | You remember |
| (él/ella) recuerda | he remembers/she remembers |
| (nosotros/nosotras) recordamos | we remember |
| (vosotros/vosotras) recordáis | you remember |
| (ellos/ellas) recuerdan | they remember |
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Ordinal Numbers in Spanish
This lesson introduces ordinal numbers in Spanish, which are essential for indicating order or rank, such as first, second, third, and so on. You will learn both regular and irregular ordinal numbers, how to use them in everyday contexts like floors in a building, positions in a line, and sequences in events. The focus is on practical usage with natural examples to help you become comfortable identifying and using ordinal numbers in sentences.
Understanding Basic Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers express position or order. In Spanish, some ordinal numbers have regular forms, while others are irregular. For example:
- Irregular ordinals: el primero (the first), el segundo (the second), el tercero (the third)
- Regular ordinals: el cuarto (the fourth), el quinto (the fifth), el sexto (the sixth), etc.
Examples in Everyday Situations
Practice using ordinal numbers in different contexts:
- Floors in a building: Mi apartamento está en el quinto piso del edificio. (My apartment is on the fifth floor of the building.)
- Positions in a queue or line: Estoy en el segundo lugar. (I am in the second place.)
- Order of events: La primera pregunta es fácil. (The first question is easy.)
Useful Phrases for Practice
- El primer piso tiene una terraza grande y soleada. (The first floor has a large, sunny terrace.)
- En el tercer asiento prefiero sentarme junto a la ventana. (In the third seat, I prefer to sit next to the window.)
- Recuerda que la reunión es el segundo lunes de cada mes. (Remember that the meeting is on the second Monday of each month.)
Verbs Commonly Used with Ordinal Numbers
Some verbs appear frequently when using ordinal numbers in expressions about schedules and memories. For example:
- Recordar (to remember) – yo recuerdo, tú recuerdas, él recuerda
- Tener (to have) – yo tengo, tú tienes, él tiene
- Organizar (to organize) – yo organizo, tú organizas, él organiza
Differences Between English and Spanish Ordinal Usage
In Spanish, ordinal numbers must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, so you will see forms like primer (masculine singular, shortened from primero) and primera (feminine singular). In English, ordinals like "first," "second," and "third" stay the same regardless of gender. Also, in Spanish, ordinal numbers are often placed before the noun: el tercer piso (the third floor), whereas English typically follows the same order but doesn't change form.
Key Words and Their English Equivalents
- El primero / La primera: The first
- El segundo / La segunda: The second
- El tercero / La tercera: The third
- El cuarto / La cuarta: The fourth
- El quinto / La quinta: The fifth
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