Dates and ordinal numbers: English 3AC
Read dates and ordinal numbers in English 3AC. Learn first, second, third, on and in, with school-calendar examples and exercises with answers.
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By the end of this lesson, you can
- Write common ordinal numbers.
- Read a date without confusing day and month.
- Choose on or in for calendar information.
Before you startRead short English sentences and identify the subject and verb.
Un bon cours, ça se partage.
What is an ordinal number?
A cardinal number counts: one, two, three books. An ordinal number gives a position: the first, second or third book. Dates use ordinal readings. Learn first, second and third, then fourth. Notice the spelling changes in fifth, eighth, ninth and twelfth.
Use st with 1st, nd with 2nd and rd with 3rd, but learn the exceptions 11th, 12th and 13th. After twenty, change the final part: twenty-one becomes twenty-first, written 21st; twenty-two becomes twenty-second, written 22nd.
How do you read a date in English?
In a common British form, 6 November is read the sixth of November. You may see 6th November in writing. November 6 is also used, especially in American English, and is read November sixth. Choose one form and keep it consistent in your school writing.
Write the month in words when numbers could be confusing. The date 04/05 has different readings in different countries. 4 May is clear. Days and months start with capital letters: Monday, June, September. The names of seasons usually do not: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
When do you use on and in with dates?
Use on with a day or a full date: on Friday, on 12 June. Use in with a month or year alone: in June, in 2026. Compare Our club starts in October with Our club starts on 3 October. The second sentence gives a more exact date. For 3AC practice, learn a few useful school dates and say each one aloud before writing it.
A worked example
A school reading calendar
Our reading club meets on 23 April. The school exhibition is in May. I am the twenty-first pupil on the list.
- Read 23 April as the twenty-third of April.
- On introduces a full date; in introduces a month alone.
- Twenty-first gives a position rather than a quantity.
How should I use this English 3AC lesson?
- Try the exercises before reading the answers.
- Explain a correction in your own words.
- Return to the examples when two structures look similar.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say a date in English 3AC?
Why is it 12th and not 12nd?
Do I write the in every date?
Quiz: 6 questions
6 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 6-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.
Q1The ordinal form of 8 is...
Incorrect answer
The correct spelling is eighth.
Correct answer: eighth
The correct spelling is eighth.
Q2Which form is correct?
Incorrect answer
Thirteen becomes thirteenth, written 13th.
Correct answer: 13th
Thirteen becomes thirteenth, written 13th.
Q3We meet ___ Monday.
Incorrect answer
Use on with a day of the week.
Correct answer: on
Use on with a day of the week.
Q4The exhibition is ___ September.
Incorrect answer
Use in with a month alone.
Correct answer: in
Use in with a month alone.
Q522nd means...
Incorrect answer
The final part of the number becomes ordinal.
Correct answer: twenty-second
The final part of the number becomes ordinal.
Q6Which date uses capital letters correctly?
Incorrect answer
Both the day and the month need capital letters.
Correct answer: Monday 7 June
Both the day and the month need capital letters.
Your score
0/6
Start with the worked examples
Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.
Review: 6 missed questions
The ordinal form of 8 is...
Correct answereighth
The correct spelling is eighth.
Which form is correct?
Correct answer13th
Thirteen becomes thirteenth, written 13th.
We meet ___ Monday.
Correct answeron
Use on with a day of the week.
The exhibition is ___ September.
Correct answerin
Use in with a month alone.
22nd means...
Correct answertwenty-second
The final part of the number becomes ordinal.
Which date uses capital letters correctly?
Correct answerMonday 7 June
Both the day and the month need capital letters.
Exercises with answers
6 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Exercise 1
EasyWrite the ordinal forms of 5 and 12.
Answer and explanation
Fifth and twelfth. Both have spelling changes.
Exercise 2
EasyWrite the abbreviated ordinal forms of 11 and 21.
Answer and explanation
11th and 21st. Eleven is one of the th exceptions.
Exercise 3
IntermediateRead 3 March in a common British form.
Answer and explanation
The third of March.
Exercise 4
IntermediateComplete: We travel ___ August. We leave ___ 2 August.
Answer and explanation
In August; on 2 August. Only the second phrase gives an exact day.
Exercise 5
ChallengeCorrect: My birthday is in 9 july.
Answer and explanation
My birthday is on 9 July. Use on with the full date and a capital letter for July.
Exercise 6
ChallengeWrite the fifth day of April as a clear date with the month in words.
Answer and explanation
5 April or April 5. Writing April avoids confusion between the day and month.