Ordinal Numbers (First to Tenth)
Ordinal numbers tell us the position or order of things. While counting numbers (1, 2, 3) tell us 'how many,' ordinal numbers (first, second, third) tell us 'which one.'
In Class 1, children learn ordinal numbers from first (1st) to tenth (10th). These words are used when talking about positions in a line, race, or queue.
What is Ordinal Numbers (First to Tenth) - Class 1 Maths (Numbers 1 to 9)?
Ordinal numbers show the position of something in a sequence.
| Position | Word | Short Form |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | 1st |
| 2 | Second | 2nd |
| 3 | Third | 3rd |
| 4 | Fourth | 4th |
| 5 | Fifth | 5th |
| 6 | Sixth | 6th |
| 7 | Seventh | 7th |
| 8 | Eighth | 8th |
| 9 | Ninth | 9th |
| 10 | Tenth | 10th |
Solved Examples
Example 1: Example 1: Position in a Line
Question: 5 children stand in a line: Ria, Aman, Priya, Dev, Meera. Who is third?
Think:
- 1st: Ria
- 2nd: Aman
- 3rd: Priya
Answer: Priya is third.
Example 2: Example 2: Race Position
Question: Arjun finishes a race in 2nd place. What is his position called?
Answer: Arjun is in second position.
Example 3: Example 3: Colour the Shape
Question: Colour the 4th circle: O O O O O O
Answer: Count from the left: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th — colour the 4th circle.
Example 4: Example 4: Days of the Week
Question: Monday is the 1st day of the week. What is the 5th day?
Think:
- 1st: Mon, 2nd: Tue, 3rd: Wed, 4th: Thu, 5th: Fri
Answer: Friday is the 5th day.
Example 5: Example 5: Last Position
Question: 10 children are in a queue. What position is the last child?
Answer: The last child is in the 10th (tenth) position.
Example 6: Example 6: From the Right
Question: 6 fruits in a row: mango, apple, banana, grapes, orange, guava. What is 2nd from the right?
Think:
- From right: 1st = guava, 2nd = orange
Answer: Orange is 2nd from the right.
Example 7: Example 7: Ordinal vs Counting
Question: What is the difference between '3' and '3rd'?
Answer: 3 means three things (how many). 3rd means the third one in a line (position).
Key Points to Remember
- Ordinal numbers tell position: first, second, third... tenth.
- They answer the question 'which one?' not 'how many?'
- Short forms: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th.
- Position can be counted from the left or from the right.
- Ordinal numbers are used in races, queues, days, and floors of a building.
Practice Problems
- Write the ordinal numbers from first to tenth.
- 5 animals in a line: cat, dog, parrot, fish, rabbit. Who is 4th?
- What is the short form of 'seventh'?
- Aditi is 3rd in a queue. How many people are before her?
- What is the 6th month of the year?
- In a race, Rahul is 1st and Dev is 5th. Who is closer to winning?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are ordinal numbers?
Ordinal numbers tell the position of something in a line or sequence. First (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd), and so on.
Q2. How are ordinal numbers different from counting numbers?
Counting numbers (1, 2, 3) tell 'how many.' Ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) tell 'which position' or 'in what order.'
Q3. What is the short form of 'first'?
The short form of first is 1st. Other short forms: 2nd (second), 3rd (third), 4th (fourth), and so on.
Q4. Can I count position from the right?
Yes. You can count from the left or from the right. Make sure to say which direction you are counting from.
Q5. Where do we use ordinal numbers?
We use ordinal numbers in races (1st place), queues (3rd in line), floors (5th floor), dates (March 8th), and days (1st day of the week).
Q6. How many ordinal numbers do we learn in Class 1?
In Class 1, children learn ordinal numbers from first (1st) to tenth (10th). Higher ordinal numbers are taught in later classes.
