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Ordinal Numbers

FoundationHigherAQA

Learn Ordinal Numbers for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Ordinal numbers add -ième to the cardinal number, with premier and première as irregulars.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

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Higher

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Topic overview

Ordinal numbers say first, second, third and so on, and most are formed by adding -ième to the cardinal number.

Deux gives deuxième, trois gives troisième, dix gives dixième. Premier is the exception, with a feminine form première. Second exists alongside deuxième but is used mainly when there are only two items.

A few require spelling adjustments. Numbers ending in -e drop it before -ième: quatre gives quatrième, not quatreième. Cinq adds a u: cinquième. Neuf changes f to v: neuvième. Ordinals are used for dates only with the first: le premier mai, but le deux mai for the second.

Revision notes

The basic rule

Add -ième to the cardinal number.

Deux gives deuxième. Trois gives troisième. Dix gives dixième. Vingt gives vingtième. The pattern is consistent apart from a handful of spelling adjustments.

Premier and the spelling changes

Premier is irregular, with the feminine première.

Numbers ending in -e drop it: quatre gives quatrième. Cinq adds a u: cinquième. Neuf changes f to v: neuvième.

Ordinals in dates

Only the first of the month uses an ordinal: le premier mai.

Every other date uses the cardinal number: le deux mai, le trois mai, le vingt-cinq décembre. This differs from English, which uses ordinals throughout.

Key points

  • Most ordinals add -ième.
  • Deux gives deuxième.
  • Premier is irregular.
  • Numbers ending in -e drop it first.
  • Cinq gives cinquième and neuf gives neuvième.
  • Only the first of the month uses an ordinal.

Worked examples

Example 1

Give the ordinal form of quatre. [2 marks]

Working

quatrièmedrop the final -e before adding -ième
Numbers ending in -e lose it before the ending is addedexplain the spelling change

Example 2

Give the ordinal form of neuf. [2 marks]

Working

neuvièmechange the f to v before adding -ième
Neuf changes its final consonant in the ordinal formexplain the change

Example 3

Translate: the second of May. [2 marks]

Working

le deux maiuse the cardinal number
Only the first of the month uses an ordinal in Frenchexplain the date rule

Common mistakes

  • Writing quatreième.

    The -e is dropped before -ième.

  • Using ordinals for all dates.

    Only the first of the month takes premier.

  • Forgetting the u in cinquième.

    It is added for pronunciation.

  • Using premier for feminine nouns.

    The feminine form is première.

Exam tips

  • Drop a final -e before adding -ième.
  • Learn the cinq and neuf changes.
  • Use cardinals for all dates except the first.
  • Remember première for feminine nouns.

Key terms

Ordinal number
A number such as first or second.
Cardinal number
A counting number such as deux.
-ième
The ending forming most ordinals.
Premier
The irregular ordinal meaning first.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.