Cardinal numbers determine the number of objects/topics/people, etc., that are discussed in a sentence. As you already understood, “cardinal numerals” are used with countable nouns (subjects and objects that can be counted):
- two envelopes - two envelopes;
- four paws - four paws;
- a thousand reasons - a thousand reasons.
Cardinal numbers are divided into three groups:
1.Simple
Prime numbers include numbers from 1 to 12 inclusive, since they consist of one morpheme, the root of a word: one, eleven, five, etc.
2. Derived
Derivatives include numbers from 13 to 19. To form them, you need to add the suffix “teen” to the simple numeral (or its modified base): eighteen, seventeen, sixteen.
There are two types of stress in these numerals: one falls on the first syllable, the other on the suffix “teen”.
3. Compound
Composite numbers include numbers denoting tens (including in combination with units), starting from 20. When formed, the basis of a simple number is preserved or modified. Up to a hundred, the suffix “-ty” is added to the word: ninety, sixty-one, twenty-three, eighty.
When forming some derivatives and composite cardinal numerals, the basis of the simple numeral changes:
- three - thirteen, thirty;
- five - fifteen, fifty;
- two - twenty;
- four - fourteen, forty.
Ordinal numerals
Ordinal numbers denote what an object is among many others: fifth, tenth, etc. Most ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix “-th” to the cardinal number:
- seven - seventh;
- twenty-eight - twenty-eighth;
- fifteen - fifteenth;
- seventy-four - seventy-fourth;
- four hundred (and) twenty - four hundred twentieth.
Note: “-y” at the end of a numeral is changed to “-ie”, after which “-th” is added.
Exceptions or first 3 ordinal numbers
The first three cardinal numbers completely change the root when forming ordinal numbers:
- one - first ;
- two - second ;
- three - third;
- twenty-one - twenty-first;
- forty-two - forty-second;
- thirty-three - thirty-third.
Table of English cardinal and ordinal numbers
For clarity, we will compile a table with transcription, translation and taking into account the described rules of writing in words, which will reflect the difference between the formation of cardinal and ordinal numbers in English.
| Number | Cardinal number | Ordinal number |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | first |
| 2 | two | second [ˈsɛk(ə)nd] |
| 3 | three [θriː] | third [θəːd] |
| 4 | four | fourth |
| 5 | five | fifth |
| 6 | six | sixth |
| 7 | seven [ˈsɛv(ə)n] | seventh [ˈsɛv(ə)nθ] |
| 8 | eight | eighth |
| 9 | nine | ninth [ˈnʌɪnθ] |
| 10 | ten | tenth |
| 11 | eleven [ɪˈlɛv(ə)n] | eleventh [ɪˈlɛv(ə)nθ] |
| 12 | twelve | twelfth |
| 13 | thirteen [θəːˈtiːn] | thirteenth [ˌθəːˈtiːnθ] |
| 14 | fourteen | fourteenth [ˌfɔːˈtiːnθ] |
| 15 | fifteen | fifteenth |
| 16 | sixteen | sixteenth [ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ] |
| 17 | seventeen | seventeenth [ˌsɛvnˈtiːnθ] |
| 18 | eighteen | eighteenth [ˌeɪˈtiːnθ] |
| 19 | nineteen | nineteenth [ˌnʌɪnˈtiːnθ] |
| 20 | twenty [ˈtwɛnti] | twentieth [ˈtwentiəθ] |
| 21 | twenty-one [ˈtwenɪ-wʌn] | twenty-first |
| 22 | twenty-two [ˈtwenɪ-tuː] | twenty-second [ˈtwentɪ-ˈsekənd] |
| 23 | twenty-three [ˈtwenɪ-θriː] | twenty-third [ˈtwenɪ-θɜːd] |
| 24 | twenty-four [ˈtwenɪ-fɔː] | twenty-fourth [ˈtwentɪ-fɔːθ] |
| 25 | twenty-five [ˈtwenɪ-faɪv] | twenty-fifth [ˈtwentɪ-fɪfθ] |
| 26 | twenty-six [ˈtwenɪ-sɪks] | twenty-sixth [ˈtwentɪ-sɪksθ] |
| 27 | twenty-seven [ˈtwentɪ-sevn] | twenty-seventh [ˈtwentɪ-sevnθ] |
| 28 | twenty-eight [ˈtwentɪ-eɪt] | twenty-eighth [ˈtwenɪ-eɪtθ] |
| 29 | twenty-nine [ˈtwentɪ-naɪn] | twenty-ninth [ˈtwentɪ-naɪnθ] |
| 30 | thirty [‘θɜːtɪ] | thirtieth [ˈθɜː.ti.əθ] |
| 40 | forty [‘fɔːtɪ] | fortieth [ˈfɔː.ti.əθ] |
| 50 | fifty [‘fɪftɪ] | fiftieth [ˈfɪf.ti.əθ] |
| 60 | sixty [‘sɪkstɪ] | sixtieth [ˈsɪk.sti.əθ] |
| 70 | seventy [‘sev(ə)ntɪ] | seventieth [ˈsev.ən.ti.əθ] |
| 80 | eighty [‘eɪtɪ] | eightieth [ˈeɪ.ti.əθ] |
| 90 | ninety [‘naɪntɪ] | ninetieth [ˈnaɪn.ti.əθ] |
| 100 | one hundred [‘hʌndrəd] | hundredth [ˈhʌndrədθ] |
| 1000 | one thousand [‘θauz(ə)nd] | thousandth [ˈθaʊznθ] |
| 1 000 000 | one million [‘mɪljən] | millionth [ˈmɪljənθ] |
| 1 000 000 000 | one billion [‘bɪljən] | billionth [ˈbɪl.i.ənθ] |
Exercises to practice English numerals
Now that we have become familiar with the new ones and remembered the numbers in English known from our school years, it’s time to consolidate and test our knowledge with exercises. Select one of the learning mode options in the module at the bottom right (selection, memorization, test, flashcards, spelling) and practice both writing and pronunciation.
Functions in a sentence
The numeral, as an independent part of speech, can play different roles in a sentence:
Subject
1998 is a year that he will always remember. - 1998 is a year that he will remember forever.
5 means a number of your good marks for the previous week. - 5 - the number of your positive ratings over the past week.
Addition
If you add one more important detail, we will be more likely to find the place. - If you add one important detail, it will be much easier for us to find this place.
Divide 10 into 5 equal parts and you have 2 as the result. - Dividing 10 into 5 equal parts, you get 2.
Definition
He is leaving for a three-days journey. - He is going on a three-day journey.
She has only 10 minutes to finish her task. - She only has 10 minutes left to solve the problem.
Predicative
His lucky number today is 10. - For today, his lucky number is 10.
Fifty plus thirty-six is 86. - If you add thirty-six to fifty, you get 86.
Features of the use of hundred, thousand, million, billion
The numerals “hundred, thousand, million, billion” in the meaning of a precisely defined quantity do not require adding endings:
- 157 - a hundred (and) fifty-seven;
- 2380 - two thousand three hundred (and) eighty.
*and is used in British English to link a higher place number with a lower place number, but is omitted in American English.
But if we are talking about them in the meaning of a set, and not a specific number, the situation changes completely; it is necessary to add the ending “-s”:
- thousands of workers - thousands of workers;
- hundreds of factories - hundreds of factories.
Reading fractions
In an ordinary (“improper”) fraction with non-integer numbers, the numerator is read as a cardinal number, and the denominator as an ordinal number:
- ⅓ - one-third;
- ⅛ - one-eighth.
If the numerator is greater than one, you need to add “-s” to the denominator, already expressed as an ordinal number:
- 2/9 - two-ninths;
- 3/11 - three-elevenths.
However, fractions referring to half (“a half”) or a quarter (“a quarter”) are more correctly expressed through the indefinite article or cardinal number:
- 665... - double six five (two sixes, five);
- 444… - triple four (three fours).
Reading dates
Reading dates is often simplified: a four-digit number is divided into two two-digit numbers, which are read separately. A full pronunciation is also possible, similar to the Russian language, but it is becoming less and less common:
- 1786 - seventeen eighty-six / one thousand seven hundred (and) eighty-six;
- 1580 - fifteen eighty / one thousand five hundred (and) eighty
In the sentence, the year is indicated by a cardinal number, not an ordinal number (there will be no “-th” at the end):
- He was born in nineteen thirty-six. - He was born in 1936.
If we are talking not about one year, but about a decade (50s, 80s, 90s), you need to add “-s”:
- In early seventies the Scorpions were popular among young people. - In the early 70s, Scorpions were popular among young people.
Reading money amounts
Reading monetary amounts has a nuance: in the range from 1000 to 10,000, money is calculated in hundreds (the number is divided by one hundred and the word “hundred” is added):
- $1200 - twelve hundred dollars;
- $5478 - fifty-four hundred (and) seventy-eight dollars
In other cases, we read it as is:
- $11000 - eleven thousand dollars;
- $348 - three hundred (and) forty-eight dollars.
Reading zero
Zero in telephone numbers, calendar years, and in any colloquial speech is read as the letter 'o' [əu]. However, in mathematics, zero, which denotes a separate and unrelated number, is read as "zero". The obsolete word “nought”, literally meaning “nothing,” has a similar meaning.
Afterword
The topic of ordinal and cardinal numbers in the English language, like any question that is not difficult in the usual sense, contains many details that you need to remember in order not only to feel freer in expressing thoughts and ideas, but also to understand the native speaker’s speech without problems and unnecessary guesswork .
The topic of English numerals is quite complex, since the formation of English numerals differs from the formation of Russian ones. There are rules, and there are exceptions, and both have their own peculiarities. Let's look at English numbers with transcription and Russian pronunciation, give striking examples and focus on exceptions. Go ahead for new knowledge!
Numbers in English are formed in different ways. Numerals from 1 to 10 have some rules of formation, from 13 to 20 - others. Tens, hundreds and thousands also have peculiarities of education.
Features of the formation of numerals from 1 to 12
The table below shows the numerals from 1 to 12 with transcription, Russian pronunciation and examples:
| 1 | one | one | |
| 2 | two | [ˈtuː] | that |
| 3 | three | [θriː] | sri |
| 4 | four | odds | |
| 5 | five | five | |
| 6 | six | syx | |
| 7 | seven | [ˈsevn] | s'even |
| 8 | eight | eith | |
| 9 | nine | nain | |
| 10 | ten | heating element | |
| 11 | eleven | [ɪˈlevn̩] | il'even |
| 12 | twelve | tU'elv |
- We wanted one cake, two bananas ang eight apples => We wanted one cake, two bananas and eight apples.
- We need to buy avocado fot this recipe. Or better two ones => For this recipe we have to buy an avocado. Or better yet, two.
- Three kilos of meat, four big tomatoes, five eggplants and garlic will make this evening much more better. I will prepare very delicious dish by my own recipe! => Three kilograms of meat, four large tomatoes, five eggplants and garlic will make the evening much better. I will prepare a very tasty dish according to my own recipe!
- Eleven foxes and twelve wolves were seen on this week at this place => Eleven foxes and twelve wolves were seen this week at this place.
Features of the formation of numerals from 13 to 20
| 13 | thirteen | [θɜː’tiːn] | sert'in |
| 14 | fourteen | [ˌfɔː’tiːn] | fort'in |
| 15 | fifteen | [ˌfɪf’tiːn] | fifty'in |
| 16 | sixteen | [ˌsɪk’stiːn] | sykst'in |
| 17 | seventeen | [ˌsev(ə)n’tiːn] | Seventh'in |
| 18 | eighteen | [ˌeɪ’tiːn] | eit'in |
| 19 | nineteen | [ˌnaɪn’tiːn] | night'in |
The table shows that numerals from 13 to 19 (inclusive) are written according to the same rules; a particle is added to the cardinal number (one, two, three) –teen. And do not confuse cardinal numbers with ordinal numbers! in English they are formed in a completely different way!
On a note! It must be remembered that every rule has exceptions. In this case, the exceptions will be the numerals 13 and 15. Their roots three and five will have a modified form:
- Three => thirteen
- Five => fifteen.
Not threeteen/fiveteen!!!
Some examples:
- Seventeen girls were seen at this party while only eight boys came. — Seventeen girls were seen at the party, while only eight guys came.
- Seventeen pieces of cake were given to all those children. — All these children were given seventeen pieces of pie.
- There is a lot of fish in this river. Nineteen kinds were known 5 years ago. — There are a lot of fish in this river. Five years ago, nineteen species were known.
Tens of English numerals
| 20 | twenty | [ˈtwenti] | tU'enti |
| 30 | thirty thirty | [ˈθɜːti] | S'yorti |
| 40 | forty | [ˈfɔːti] | f'orti |
| 50 | fifty | [ˈfɪfti] | f'ifti |
| 60 | sixty | [ˈsɪksti] | s’yksti |
| 70 | seventy | [ˈsevnti] | s'eventi |
| 80 | eighty | [ˈeɪti] | ‘hey |
| 90 | ninety | [ˈnaɪnti] | n'ainti |
The table clearly shows that tens of numbers are formed using a particle (suffix) –ty. These numerals are derivatives of cardinal ones, but you also need to add the suffix –ty.
Important! Remember that when forming the numbers 20,30, 40 and 50, the root of the cardinal digits, which serve as the basis for the formation of tens, will change:
- two – 20 twenty [ˈtwenti]
- three – 30 thirty [ˈθɜːti]
- four – 40 forty [ˈfɔːti]
- five – 50 fifty [ˈfɪfti]
And one more nuance: the number 80 [ˈeɪti] is characterized by the absence of repetition of the letter t: eight (eight) = eighty(eight+ty =eightty).
Examples:
- Thirty exotic animals were needed to make the idea of the movie complete => Thirty exotic animals were needed to make the idea of the movie complete.
- Sixty soldiers will come on parade in front of the palace => Sixty soldiers will come to the parade that will be in front of the palace.
- Fifty of them knew the road but only thirty agreed to follow us => Fifty of them knew the road, but only thirty agreed to follow us.
As for the stress of numerals that are formed with the help of –ty, then everything is simple - stress Always will be on the first syllable.
Reference: It happens that beginning students find it difficult to separate numerals with –ty and –teen in colloquial speech. And here stress comes to the rescue - if it is on the first syllable, then 100% we are dealing with tens of numerals.
Basics: How numbers are formed in English
When studying the formation of English numbers, it is important to remember that numbers from 1 to 12 are simple cardinal numbers. Their task is to indicate the number of objects. Such numerals consist of one word. It is very important to remember the spelling of the first twelve digits, since they are the basis for the formation of all other digits - from thirteen to a billion.
How to pronounce numerals that are formed by adding the particle –teen? Here you need to be very careful => the pronunciation of numerals (English numbers) will have two stresses: on the first and second syllable. At the same time, we immediately note that the stresses will not be equal in strength. One of them will be secondary, and the other will be primary.
For example, how do you pronounce thirteen? From the transcription of [ˌθɜːˈtiːn] it is clear that the word has two stresses. The bottom line indicates secondary stress, the top line indicates primary stress. The same goes for fourteen [ˌfɔːˈtiːn] and fifteen [ˌfɪfˈtiːn]. There are also two stresses here – main and additional.
What to do to avoid making mistakes with pronunciation? To do this, you should always look at the transcription. Each numeral, like any other word, should be studied according to the following scheme: transcription - translation - the presence of several meanings.
Note! In some dictionaries, the stress of numerals is determined by the presence (absence) of a noun after it. For example, if a numeral is next to a noun, then the stress falls on the first syllable =>
- fifteen rivers [ˈfɪftiːn ˈrɪvər z]
- sixteen cats [ˈsɪkstiːn ˈkæts]
But! If a numeral stands alone in a sentence, without a noun, then the stress falls on the second syllable (on the suffix –teen):
- fifteen
- sixteen
Examples:
- Fifteen cats were sold this week (emphasis is on the first syllable) => Fifteen cats were sold this week
- How many cats were sold this week? – Fifteen (emphasis on the suffix –teen) => How many cats were sold this week? - Fifteen.
A hundred, a thousand, a million: is there a difference?
First of all, it should be noted that before the numerals hundred (one hundred), thousand (thousand) and million (million) there will always be either the word one or the indefinite article a (meaning ‘one’).
- a/one hundred => One h’andrid [ə wʌn ˈhʌndrəd]
- a/one thousand => One Southend
- one million => One m'ilyan.
- One hundred and twenty => one hundred and twenty
- One hundred singers => one hundred singers
- One hundred thirty eight cars => one hundred thirty eight cars.
But! Other cardinal numbers are characterized by the absence of an article! =>
- Five dresses => Five dresses.
- Eight balls => Eight balls.
Important! The numerals hundred, thousand and million do not have the ending –s, which determines the plural.
- Two hundred => two hundred
- Five hundred => five hundred
- Nine hundred => nine hundred, etc.
If we are talking about thousands, then the same rule applies:
- thousand (one thousand) – one thousand or a thousand
- five thousand – five thousand
- seven thousand – seven thousand.
Millions are formed by the same principle:
- million (one million) – one million or a million
- seven million – seven million
- nine million – nine million.
But! English wouldn't be as fun to learn if it didn't have exceptions. What would it be like without them? Students will be interested to know that the ending –s in millions, thousands and hundreds is still used. When does this happen? When measures denote an indefinite number of these same millions, thousands and hundreds.
Examples
- Hundreds of pages to read for understanding => Read hundreds of pages to understand (something, a foreign language, for example).
- Five millions of tons of gold => Five million tons of gold.
- Thousands of kilometers to walk to win marathon => Walk thousands of kilometers to win the marathon.
From the examples it is clear that after hundreds, thousands and millions with the ending –s (when translated into English) comes a noun or verb. In most cases, the additional part of the sentence will still be a noun. And if it is present, it must be with the preposition of:
- Seven or eight thousand of specie were made of pure silver => Seven or eight thousand metal coins were made of pure silver.
A song about English numbers for children
Let's sum it up
Numbers in English are formed in a different way from the one we studied in Russian grammar. Tens and hundreds have their own characteristics of education, in which, naturally, there will certainly be exceptions to the rules. At the same time, in order to learn numerals correctly, it is extremely important to learn how to pronounce them correctly.
When writing numerals, they also have their own nuances; you also need to know the subtleties of spelling. Therefore, we are learning the topic of English numbers with transcription and Russian pronunciation little by little and with examples (translation) in order to better understand the intricacies of the material. And don’t forget to regularly review the topics you’ve already studied so that you don’t forget them.
Good luck and new achievements! Remember that everything was not given to anyone at once. Start small and gradually develop your abilities. If you want, you will succeed! See you again and more interesting topics to study!
A couple more videos on the formation of English numbers from 1 to 100 and from 100 and above from an English-speaking teacher:
Numerals in the English language help make speech intelligible and more accurate. Agree, it is difficult to give comprehensive information without indicating a specific date, time, date or quantity of something. Knowing how to correctly use English numerals in your speech, you will look like an educated and well-read person in the eyes of your interlocutor. Let's look at the features of declension and the use of different types of numerals, and also give vivid examples of their use.
English numerals are divided into cardinal and ordinal:
- One, two, three, four are cardinal numbers,
- first, second, third, fourth are ordinal numbers.
On a note! Unlike Russian numerals, a numeral in English is not subject to declension.
The absence of declension of numerals is an undeniable advantage not only for foreigners who are learning a language, but also for native speakers. Not everyone will correctly translate a sentence that contains, for example, ‘845 barrels’ or ‘397 bags’. In this case, there can be not only “barrels”, but also “barrels”, “barrels”, etc. In English there are no problems with this and this is a big plus.
The main function of cardinal numbers is to answer the question ‘how many?’. Such numerals denote the number/quantity of persons, objects, things, etc.
One man, one woman, one girl, one tree, one lake, one fence => one man, one woman, one girl, one tree, one lake, one fence.
From the examples it is clear that it does not matter what gender the noun is. He, she or it will all have the numeral one. We decline it only when translating into Russian.
Examples
This guy annoys me so much but he is the one person who understands me => This guy annoys me very much, but he is the only person who understands me.
Only one girl smiled to me while others continue to look at me with some anger => Only one girl smiled at me, while the others continued to look at me with some anger.
Seven dishes were cooked at this restaurant but I was offered only three => Seven dishes were prepared at this restaurant, but I was offered only three.
Five phones were sold in one day => Five phones were sold in one day.
Twenty three flowers were prepared for this bunch but the man refused to pay for it => Twenty three flowers were prepared for this bouquet, but the man refused to pay for them.
Twenty three rivers run through this country => Twenty three rivers cross this country.
Rules for writing numerals
Let's look at how the numbers from 1 to 20 are written. And let's not forget about zero:
0 – zero, nothing
As for the numerals in English from thirteen to nineteen, they are formed in the following way: you need to add the suffix –teen, which is translated into Russian as ‘’-eleven’’:
17 – seventeen
19 – nineteen.
As you can see, the numbers from 1 to 20 are written differently in English.
Examples
There were fifteen soldiers but no one officer => There were fifteen soldiers, but not a single officer.
Eighteen people decided to be volunteers => Eighteen people decided to be volunteers.
Seventeen flowers were taken to make a bouquet for a bride => Seventeen flowers were taken to make a bouquet for the bride.
I baked sixteen cakes for your friends to enjoy that time =>
Only eighteen singers came to support their old friend and to give free of charge concert => Only eighteen singers came to support their old friend and give a free concert.
If we are talking about numerals that are measured in tens, then to form them we use the suffix –ty:
90 – ninety, etc.
Fifty grams of cognac will make your bake more delicious => 50 grams of cognac will make your baked goods more delicious.
Seventy plus seventy is equal to one hundred and forty => Seventy plus seventy equals one hundred and forty.
Sixty minus forty is equal to twenty => Sixty minus forty equals twenty.
On a note! If the cardinal number consists of tens and units, then the words should be separated by a hyphen:
23 – twenty-three
35 – thirty-five
76 – seventy-six
95 – ninety-five
37 – thirty-seven.
I was told to buy twenty-five eggs and sixty-seven tomatoes. No more, no less. My sister is strict J => I was told to buy twenty-five eggs and sixty-seven tomatoes. No more no less. My sister is strict J
A great fest is coming soon so we are to buy a lot of food. Thirty-seven kilograms of potatoes, twenty-three kilograms of tomatoes and forty-five kilograms of fruit will be enough, I hope => A big holiday is approaching and we need to buy a lot of food. Thirty-seven kilograms of potatoes, twenty-three kilograms of tomatoes and forty-five kilograms of fruit will be enough, I hope.
Help: if a numeral consists of hundreds and thousands, then when adding words that denote tens and units, you need to use the conjunction and:
102 – one hundred and two
467 – four hundred and sixty-seven
5023 – five thousand and twenty-three
7982 – seven thousand nine hundred and eighty-two.
On a note! If we are talking about telephone numbers, credit and bank card numbers, then the entire number must be read individually:
Nine seven eight, three four five, five three eight, nine seven eight
Nine six seven, six six five, four three two, one two three.
Note! It happens that double and triple digits are designated as double and triple =>
777-567-43-11 => triple seven, five, six, seven, four, three, double one.
999-333-65-88 => triple nine, triple three, six, five, double eight.
Help: if the number is very large, then it is recommended to separate the digits with a comma, for easier understanding: 234.567; 786, 798, 465; 5,876.
For some, this may seem unusual, because in the Russian language spaces are used in such cases.
Ordinal numbers: asking a question and answering
‘Which?’ and ‘Which?’ are questions answered by ordinal numbers. Unlike cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers are often used with the article the, since they are a modifier of a specific noun.
The eleventh man - the eleventh man
The second singer - second singer
The third child - the third child.
The twelfth man was handsome but the second one was kind and polite => The twelfth man was handsome, but the second one was kind and polite.
The third girl has so beautiful eyes I can’t help myself from watching at her! => The third girl had such beautiful eyes that I couldn’t help but look at her!
The eleventh ball was red, the first – yellow, and the last in the raw was brown. I had to choose but I wanted all of them => The eleventh ball was red, the first was yellow, the last in the row was brown. I had to choose, but I wanted them all.
To form an ordinal number, you need to take the cardinal number as a basis and add the suffix –th:
Seven – seventh
But! If the suffix is preceded by the letter –у, then it must be replaced with –ie-:
Eighty – eightieth
Thirty – thirties.
Important! Please note the following exceptions:
Eight – eighth
Twelve – twelfth.
As in Russian, the ordinal form in compound ordinal numbers will only be observed in the last component:
27th – twenty-seventh
232nd – two hundred and thirty-second.
On a note! The definite article is an indispensable companion of the ordinal number.
The first act of the drama was amazing! => The first act of the drama was wonderful!
The second machine is much more better that the first => The second mechanism is much better than the first.
But! There are times when the indefinite article is used. It should be remembered that in this situation the meaning of the word will be ‘’one more’’:
She has written an essay, and then a second one => She wrote an essay, and then Another.
We wrote a complaint last week, but yesterday a second one => We wrote a complaint last week, and yesterday one more.
On a note! Note the use of the words thousand, hundred, million => they are used singular.
Examples
Three hundred, five thousand, eleven million.
But! The plural is used when we are talking about thousands or millions of something:
Hundreds of shoes – hundreds of pairs of shoes
Millions of drops - millions of drops.
If I were a millionaire, I would buy hundreds or even millions of shoes at once => If I were a millionaire, I would buy hundreds or even millions of pairs of shoes at once.
The sky was clear and we could see millions of stars shining bright like cat’s eyes => The sky was clear and we could see millions of stars shining like a cat’s eyes.
Fractional numbers in English: spelling nuances
Fractional numbers in English also have their own spelling features. If we are talking about simple fractions, then we denote the numerator as a cardinal number, and the denominator as an ordinal number. It should be remembered that if the denominator is greater than one, then the ordinal number acquires the ending –s =>
1/3 => a (one) third
1/5 => a (one) fifth
¼ => a (one) fourth/quarter
1/100 => a (one) hundredth
1/1225 => a (one) thousand two hundred and twenty-fifth
2/3 => two thirds
7/17 => seven seventeenth
5/7 => five sevenths
2/5 ton => two fifths of a ton
½ kilometer => half a kilometer.
Examples
We drove half a kilometer but saw no people => We drove half a kilometer, but didn’t see any people.
Only 5/7 of a work was done => Only 5/7 of the work was done.
2/3 of an apple you have to give your young sister => 2/3 of an apple you must give to your younger sister.
How to read the years in English
It is important to remember that years are denoted by cardinal numbers, not ordinal numbers. In this case, the year is divided into two two-digit numbers, and itself is read as two-digit:
The incident took place in 1992 => It took place in nineteen ninety-two.
I was born in 1987 => I was born in nineteen eighty-seven.
2005 => twenty o-five/two thousand five
2017 => twenty seventeen/two thousand seventeen.
Numerals in English can act as a noun (they can be nouns).
Those three took my things => These three took my things.
Those two saw me without a make-up => These two saw me without makeup.
Money amounts in English
An interesting fact is that money in English (if the number is from 1000 to 10,000) should be read not in thousands, but hundred =>
$1000 => ten hundred dollars
$1300 => thirteen hundred dollars
$5723 => fifty seven hundred and twenty three
The word three is pronounced [θriː], but it can be mistakenly pronounced as tree. If you are not well versed in pronunciation, then transcription should become a mandatory lesson for you to study. The pronunciation must be correct. This is extremely important for proper reading. Therefore, we learn the rules and exceptions in such a way as to remember them forever.
$11,009 => eleven thousand and nine dollars.
Let's sum it up
Having decided to study English, numerals should occupy a significant place in the lesson schedule. Without them, it is difficult to make speech accurate and informative. Every day we come across numbers and quantities, so we need to know not only the rules of pronunciation, but also the writing of numerals. There are many exceptions in the development of the English language, and the history of the creation of the language is full of striking examples that need to be learned by heart and always remembered. High-quality speech is smart speech. An incorrectly said numeral can ruin all your efforts and create an impression about you that is not what you would like. Repeat the rules every day and remember that there will always be exceptions to them. Good luck and inspiration!