Ordinal numbers are affected by gender. Let's look at some example sentences.
Usted debe aplicar primero.
You must apply first.
La primera regla es: No llegue tarde.
The first rule is: Don't be late.
Es el primero de enero.
It is the first of January.
Las camisas para hombres están en el segundo piso.
The shirts for men are on the second floor.
Tome la segunda calle a la derecha.
Take the second street to your right.
Iba a tomar el tercer curso pero tengo que repetir el segundo.
I was going to take the third course, but I have to repeat the second course.
El quinto día vi a Pedro.
The fifth day, I saw Pedro.
"Primero," and "tercero," drop the o before a masculine noun singular.
¿Es este tu primer viaje a los Estados Unidos?
Is this your first visit to the USA?
Puede trabajar el primer turno o el segundo turno.
You can work first or second shift.
Fue nuestro tercer encuentro.
It was our third encounter.
Example sentence with fractions.
Un décimo de la cosecha está destruida.
One tenth of the crop is destroyed.
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Basic
Intermediate
Video - Use of Ordinal Numbers
Note:
Ordinal numbers are adjectives, they agree with the noun modified, and usually go before the noun [las primeras palabras].
Primero and tercero have shortend forms that are used before a masculine singular noun [el primer libro, el tercer chico].
After names, Roman numerals are often used, but when spoken or written, the word “the” is not used [Carlos V = Carlos Quinto; Juana II = Juana Segunda].
Forms exist for virtually all whole numbers, but normally cardenal numbers are used instead for numbers higher than ten: the 20th chapter = el capítulo veinte [or on occasion: el capítulo vigésimo].
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