Using Numbers in English

Lesson 1.4 Using Numbers in English

Using Numbers in English

1.4.1  Numbers can be either cardinal or ordinal. Cardinal numbers are the normal numbers like 1 (one), 2 (two), 3 (three), and so on. We can write them in words (one) or figures (1). They tell us how many of something there are, e.g. ‘There are two people in the classroom’. They are also used to tell the time, e.g. ‘It was three o’clock’.

1.4.2  Ordinal numbers are numbers like 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third), and so on. They tell us the position of something, e.g. ‘I was the first person in the queue.’ They are also used for dates, e.g. ‘It was the second of July.’ We can write them in words (first) or figures (1st). Ordinal numbers always end with ‘th’, apart from numbers with:

1, which end with ‘st’, e.g. 1st

2, which end with ‘nd’, e.g. 2nd

3, which end with ‘rd’, e.g. 3rd

The exceptions are 11th, 12th, and 13th, which always end with ‘th’. After the word hundred it is necessary to add ‘and’, e.g. 110 = one hundred and ten.

image-1-4-1-list-of-numbers-in-english

1.4.3  In mathematics we use the following words and symbols:

image-1-4-2-mathematical-symbols-in-english

1.4.4  When it comes to learning how to spell numbers there is a lot of repetition. For example:

eight                            eighty-eight

eighteen                     eight hundred and eighty-eight

twenty eight               eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight

eighty…                       eight million, eight hundred thousand and eighty-eight

and so on.

This means that you only need to learn 29 vocabulary words to be able to spell all numbers, because all possible combinations can be made from them. These are the words to learn:

image-1-4-3-english-numbers-that-you-must-learn-to-spell

Exercises:

Ex. 1.4.1 Spelling  Fill in the gaps to spell a selection of numbers between 1 and 30:

  1. e i _ _ _ e e _
  2. _ _ e _ _ _ – e i _ _ _
  3. _ i _ e
  4. _ _ e _ _ _ – _ _ o
  5. _ i _ e _ e e _
  6. e _ e _ e _
  7. _ i _
  8. _ e _ e _
  9. _ _ e _ _ _ – _ _ _ e e
  10. _ _ i _ _ _
  11. _ i _ e
  12. _ _ e _ _ _ – _ o u _
  13. _ _ i _ _ e e _
  14. _ e _ e _ _ e e _
  15. o _ e
  16. _ _ o
  17. _ _ e _ _ _
  18. _ _ _ e e
  19. _ _ e _ _ _ – o _ e
  20. _ o u _
  21. _ e _
  22. _ _ e _ _ e
  23. e i _ _ _
  24. _ o u _ _ e e _

Ex. 1.4.2 Reading  Complete the sums below, writing your answers in words:

image-1-4-4-maths-questions

Ex. 1.4.3 Reading  Write the answers to the following sums in words:

  1. four plus ten equals ___________________________________
  2. twenty five plus three plus fourteen equals ___________________________________
  3. nine minus seven equals ___________________________________
  4. thirty two minus seventeen equals ___________________________________
  5. seven plus one minus five equals ___________________________________
  6. ten multiplied by eight equals ___________________________________
  7. four multiplied by fifteen equals ___________________________________
  8. thirty two divided by eight equals ___________________________________
  9. sixty divided by ten equals ___________________________________
  10. one hundred and twenty divided by four equals ___________________________________
  11. seven multiplied by three plus sixteen equals ___________________________________
  12. eighteen minus nine plus forty four equals ___________________________________
  13. five plus eleven equals ___________________________________
  14. sixteen plus nineteen plus eight equals ___________________________________
  15. forty five minus seven equals ___________________________________
  16. twenty two minus thirty one equals ___________________________________
  17. thirty seven plus four minus six equals ___________________________________
  18. twenty nine multiplied by five equals ___________________________________
  19. three multiplied by sixteen equals ___________________________________
  20. fifty five divided by five equals ___________________________________
  21. ninety divided by six equals ___________________________________
  22. one thousand one hundred divided by four equals ___________________________________
  23. forty multiplied by two plus four equals ___________________________________
  24. fifteen minus eight plus sixty equals ___________________________________

Ex. 1.4.4 Spelling  Complete the sentences by writing ordinal numbers (in words):

  1. October is the  ________________ month of the year.
  2. January is the ________________ month of the year.
  3. April is the ________________ month of the year.
  4. March is the ________________ month of the year.
  5. September is the ________________ month of the year.
  6. June is the ________________ month of the year.
  7. May is the ________________ month of the year.
  8. February is the ________________ month of the year.
  9. December is the ________________ month of the year.
  10. July is the ________________ month of the year.
  11. November is the ________________ month of the year.
  12. August is the ________________ month of the year.

Ex. 1.4.5 Spelling  Complete each sentence using an ordinal number:

  1. A is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  2. P is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  3. E is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  4. X is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  5. L is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  6. T is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  7. O is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  8. M is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  9. F is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  10. G is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  11. K is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.
  12. R is the _________________________ letter of the alphabet.

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