Introduction to Ordinals
In French, ordinals are adjectives or pronouns that indicate the position of something in a sequence, such as first, second, third, and so on. They are essential when giving dates, ranking items, or describing order.
Formation of Ordinals
Most French ordinals are formed by adding "-ième" to the cardinal number stem, with slight spelling adjustments for pronunciation. For example, "quatre" (four) becomes "quatrième" (fourth). However, there are important exceptions, especially for the first few ordinals.
Irregular Ordinals
The first three ordinals in French have irregular forms: premier (first), deuxième or second (second), and troisième (third). "Premier" is masculine singular, with the feminine form being première. "Second" is often used in place of "deuxième" to emphasize the second of two items.
Agreement and Usage
French ordinals must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For example, "le premier chapitre" (the first chapter - masculine singular) but "la première page" (the first page - feminine singular). Plural forms typically add an "s," as in "les deuxièmes options" (the second options).
Examples in Context
- Le premier jour (the first day)
- La deuxième fois (the second time)
- Le troisième étage (the third floor)
- La quatrième question (the fourth question)
Using ordinals correctly enhances clarity and precision in communication. For additional help with numbers, see the Numbers page.
