Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
Learn to express quantities, order, and dates with German number words. Practise forming and declining ordinal numbers and using dates with am, vom, and bis zum.
Explanation
Cardinal and ordinal numbers
**Cardinal numbers** state a quantity: **drei Tickets**, **zwanzig Minuten**, **hundert Euro**. They normally have no ending.
An important exception is **eins** before a noun. It behaves like the indefinite article: **ein Termin**, **eine Stunde**, **einen Tag**. When the number stands alone, use **eins**.
**Ordinal numbers** show position in a sequence: **der erste Versuch**, **die zweite Etage**, **das dritte Kapitel**. Before a noun, they decline like adjectives.
Forming ordinal numbers
| Number | Ordinal |
|---|---|
| 1 | erste |
| 2 | zweite |
| 3 | dritte |
| 4–19 | stem + **-te**: vierte, zehnte, neunzehnte |
| 20 and above | stem + **-ste**: zwanzigste, einunddreißigste |
Note the special forms **erste**, **dritte**, **siebte** (also *siebente*), and **achte**.
Endings in sentences
The base in **-te/-ste** also receives an adjective ending:
- nominative: **der fünfte Mai**, **das erste Mal**
- accusative: **den dritten Platz**, **die zweite Aufgabe**
- dative: **am zwölften Juni**, **beim ersten Versuch**
- after a possessive determiner: **unsere achte Reise**
Expressing dates
The date after *Heute ist ...* is often nominative: **Heute ist der siebte Oktober.**
After **am**, use the dative: **Der Kurs beginnt am siebten Oktober.**
Use **vom … bis zum …** for a period: **vom siebten Oktober bis zum zwanzigsten Dezember**.
German month names are capitalized. In written-out dates, the ordinal ending must match the case.
Exercises
- Write out the number or ordinal in the correct form. (10)
- Insert the correct date forms from the word bank. (4)
- Turn the cues into a complete sentence with the date written out. (10)
A2 · German · Grammar