Practice
Adjectives of number: forms and examples
Three visitors waited outside. The first visitor had an appointment, and each person needed a pass. Words such as three, first, and each give the listener information about number.
Identify words that express number, order, approximate quantity, or distribution, and choose a form that matches the noun and meaning.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
first, second, third /fɝst, ˈsekənd, θɝd/
The short answer
Use a cardinal number for an exact count, an ordinal number for position in an order, and a word such as each, every, several, or many when the sentence gives a distribution or an approximate amount. Check whether the noun must be singular or plural.
Each guest received two tickets.
Why it works: Each treats the guests one at a time, while two gives the number of tickets for every guest.
5 more examples
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Four buses arrived before noon.
Four is a cardinal number. It gives an exact count, so buses is plural.
Not this:
The fourth busarrived before noon. What changes: Fourth identifies one bus by its place in the order, so bus is singular. -
Several students asked the same question.
Several gives an inexact number that is more than a small pair. The countable noun is plural.
Not this:
Each studentasked one question. What changes: Each considers the students separately, so student is singular. -
Our second meeting starts at nine.
Second tells the listener which meeting in a sequence is meant.
Not this:Our
two meetingsstart at nine and eleven. What changes: Two gives the total number of meetings, not their order. -
Every apartment has a smoke alarm.
Every refers to all members of a group, one at a time. It takes a singular countable noun.
Not this:
Many apartmentshave balconies. What changes: Many describes a large number, so apartments is plural. -
She made a double portion of soup.
Double describes an amount that is twice the usual size.
Not this:She made
two portionsof soup. What changes: Two gives the count of portions without comparing their size with a usual portion.
Read the full guide
Start with the noun. Ask whether you need an exact count, a place in a sequence, a general amount, or a way of looking at members of a group. That meaning helps you choose both the number word and the noun form.
Count with cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers tell you the exact number of people or things. Use one with a singular countable noun. Use numbers above one with a plural countable noun.
One package is on the desk.
One names a single package, so package is singular.
Complete the phrase: five ___
Use a plural noun: five packages.
Show position with ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers show a place in an order. First, second, third, and fourth are common ordinals. They usually come before the singular noun that holds that position.
The first train leaves at six.
First identifies one train in the departure order. It does not say how many trains there are.
Choose the word for position: the ___ page
Use an ordinal, such as the third page.
Use many and several for an amount
Many and several describe a number without giving an exact figure. Both normally go with plural countable nouns. Several often means more than two or three, but it does not name a fixed number.
Many customers use the side entrance.
Customers is plural because many refers to a large number of countable people.
Choose the noun form: several ___ arrived early.
Use a plural noun: several guests arrived early.
Use each and every with singular nouns
Each and every can refer to all members of a group. Each looks at members separately. Every presents the group as a whole, but both words normally take a singular countable noun.
Each employee has a locker.
The sentence considers employees one by one, so employee is singular.
Complete the sentence: Every ___ needs a password.
Use a singular countable noun: Every account needs a password.
Keep count and order separate
A cardinal number and an ordinal number answer different questions. Two books tells you the total. The second book tells you which book comes next in a list or sequence.
The second of two interviews was shorter.
Two gives the number of interviews. Second identifies the later interview in that pair.
Which word answers which one in order?
An ordinal word, such as second, answers that question.
Check the noun before you finish
Before you finish a sentence, look at the noun after the number word. Numbers above one, many, and several need a plural countable noun. Each, every, and an ordinal before one item need a singular countable noun.
Every visitor receives a badge, and several visitors ask for directions.
Visitor is singular after every. Visitors is plural after several.
Edit the phrase: each forms
Write each form because each is followed by a singular countable noun.
Before you go
Remember this
Use cardinal numbers for counts and ordinal numbers for order. Use many and several with plural countable nouns. Use each and every with a singular countable noun. Let the meaning and the noun form check your choice.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adjectives of number: forms and examples"
What is an adjective of number?
An adjective of number is a traditional grammar label for a word that gives information about count, order, or members of a group. Examples include two, first, several, each, and every. Modern grammar descriptions may use labels such as determiner or quantifier for some of these words.
Four buses arrived before noon.
What is the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers?
Cardinal numbers give a count, as in two tickets or ten minutes. Ordinal numbers show position in a sequence, as in the second ticket or the tenth minute. A cardinal answers how many, while an ordinal answers which one in order.
The fourth bus arrived before noon.
Why does each take a singular noun?
Each refers to members of a group separately. English normally uses a singular countable noun after each, as in each guest or each answer. The sentence can still refer to many people because the word looks at them one at a time.
Several students asked the same question.
Do many and several need plural nouns?
Yes, many and several normally go with plural countable nouns: many questions and several messages. They describe more than one person or thing, even when the speaker does not give an exact total. Do not use a singular countable noun directly after these words.
Each student asked one question.
Can one sentence use more than one number word?
Yes. Different number words can do different jobs in the same sentence. For example, an ordinal can identify one item and a cardinal can give a total. Check what each word tells the reader, then match the noun form to that word.
Our second meeting starts at nine.