Ordinal Numbers & Dates

Ordinal numbers show order or position: first, second, third, fourth... We use them for dates: on the 5th of May or on May 5th. We use in for years and months: in 2024, in May.

Ordinal numbers are formed by adding -th to most cardinal numbers (four → fourth), but some are irregular: one → first, two → second, three → third. Numbers ending in 1, 2, 3 keep that pattern in higher numbers: 21st, 22nd, 23rd, but 11th, 12th, 13th are always -th. In dates, we say the fifth of May or May the fifth, written as 5th May or May 5th. We use the preposition on with specific days and dates (on Monday, on 5th May), in with months and years (in May, in 2024), and at with precise times (at 5 o'clock).

+ on + the + ordinal + of + month / month + ordinal

• My birthday is on the 3rd of June.
• The meeting is on 21st March.
• We moved here in 2019.

− not on + date

• The exam isn't on the 1st of May.
• The event isn't in April.
• It isn't on Monday.

? What is the date? / When is...?

• What date is your birthday?
• Is the party on the 12th of July?
• When were you born?

• ENMy birthday is on the 5th of May.

  KZМенің туған күнім 5 мамырда.

  RUМой день рождения 5 мая.

• ENShe was born on 23rd September 2012.

  KZОл 2012 жылдың 23 қыркүйегінде туған.

  RUОна родилась 23 сентября 2012 года.

• ENThe first day of school is in September.

  KZМектептің бірінші күні қыркүйекте.

  RUПервый день школы в сентябре.

• ENHe came second in the running race.

  KZОл жүгіру жарысында екінші орын алды.

  RUОн занял второе место в беге.

• ENWe are going on holiday on the 21st of July.

  KZБіз демалысқа 21 шілдеде барамыз.

  RUМы едем в отпуск 21 июля.

• ENHer flat is on the twenty-third floor.

  KZОның пәтері жиырма үшінші қабатта.

  RUЕё квартира на двадцать третьем этаже.

• ENThe concert takes place in December.

  KZКонцерт желтоқсанда өтеді.

  RUКонцерт состоится в декабре.

• ENIndependence Day is celebrated on the 16th of December.

  KZТәуелсіздік күні 16 желтоқсанда тойланады.

  RUДень независимости отмечается 16 декабря.

• ENI was born in 2010, on the 11th of March.

  KZМен 2010 жылы 11 наурызда туғанмын.

  RUЯ родился в 2010 году, 11 марта.

• ENHis office is on the forty-first floor of the building.

  KZОның кеңсесі ғимараттың қырық бірінші қабатында.

  RUЕго офис на сорок первом этаже здания.

• ✗ My birthday is in the 5th of May.

  ✓ My birthday is on the 5th of May.

  Use on with specific dates, not in.

• ✗ She was born in 2010 on May.

  ✓ She was born in 2010 in May.

  Use in with months, not on.

• ✗ He came one in the race.

  ✓ He came first in the race.

  Use the ordinal first, not the cardinal one.

• ✗ The 21 of July is my birthday.

  ✓ The 21st of July is my birthday.

  Ordinal numbers need the correct suffix: 21st.

On vs In for Dates

We use on with exact days and dates (on Monday, on 5th May), and in with months, years, and longer periods (in May, in 2024, in summer).

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