Language/Turkish/Vocabulary/Ordinal-Numbers

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Turkish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Ordinal Numbers

Welcome to the lesson on Ordinal Numbers in Turkish! This is an exciting topic, as understanding ordinal numbers will help you navigate various aspects of daily life in Turkey, from ordering in a restaurant to giving directions or discussing events. Ordinal numbers are essential for expressing order or rank, making them a key component of your vocabulary as you progress toward becoming proficient in Turkish.

In this lesson, we will cover:

• The importance of ordinal numbers in Turkish.

• How to form ordinal numbers.

• Examples of ordinal numbers in different contexts.

• Exercises to practice what you’ve learned.

Let’s dive into the world of Turkish ordinal numbers!

The Importance of Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers allow us to express positions or ranks rather than just quantities. While cardinal numbers tell us how many (one, two, three, etc.), ordinal numbers tell us the position in a sequence (first, second, third, etc.).

For example, if you want to say "I live on the third floor" or "She finished in first place," you need to use ordinal numbers. Knowing these will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in various situations, such as:

• Describing locations: "My apartment is on the second floor."

• Talking about events: "The festival is on the fourth of July."

• Discussing rankings: "He is the third winner of the competition."

How to Form Ordinal Numbers in Turkish

In Turkish, forming ordinal numbers is relatively straightforward. Generally, ordinal numbers are derived from their corresponding cardinal numbers with a few modifications.

Here is the basic rule:

1. First: bir → birinci

2. Second: iki → ikinci

3. Third: üç → üçüncü

4. Fourth: dört → dördüncü

5. Fifth: beş → beşinci

6. Sixth: altı → altıncı

7. Seventh: yedi → yedinci

8. Eighth: sekiz → sekizinci

9. Ninth: dokuz → dokuzuncu

10. Tenth: on → onuncu

These patterns can be extended to higher numbers as well. For instance:

• Eleventh: on bir → on birinci

• Twelfth: on iki → on ikinci

• Twentieth: yirmi → yirminci

It’s important to note that in Turkish, ordinal numbers agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, but this is less pronounced than in some other languages.

Examples of Ordinal Numbers in Context

To give you a clearer idea of how ordinal numbers are used, here are some examples presented in a table format:

Turkish	Pronunciation	English
birinci	birin-dji	first
ikinci	ee-kin-dji	second
üçüncü	oo-choon-dji	third
dördüncü	duhr-dun-dji	fourth
beşinci	beh-shin-dji	fifth
altıncı	al-tin-dji	sixth
yedinci	yeh-din-dji	seventh
sekizinci	seh-kee-zin-dji	eighth
dokuzuncu	doh-koo-zoon-dji	ninth
onuncu	oh-noon-dji	tenth

Now let’s extend this to more complex sentences:

Turkish	Pronunciation	English
Ben üçüncü kattayım.	Ben oo-choon-dji kaht-tah-yim.	I am on the third floor.
Bugün dördüncü gün.	Boo-goon duhr-dun-dji gyoon.	Today is the fourth day.
O, yarışmanın birinci oldu.	Oh, yah-ree-shmahn-un birin-dji ohldu.	She came first in the competition.
Öğle yemeği ikinci katta.	Ur-leh yay-mah-ee ee-kin-dji kaht-tah.	The lunch is on the second floor.
Sekizinci ayda tatil yapacağım.	Seh-kee-zin-dji ai-da tah-teel yah-pah-jah-ji-m.	I will take a vacation in the eighth month.

Exercises to Practice Ordinal Numbers

Now it’s time to put your skills to the test! Here are some exercises designed to help you practice your understanding of ordinal numbers.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct ordinal number:

1. Bugün ______ gün (third).

2. O, ______ oldu (first).

3. Kedi, ______ katta (fourth).

4. Yarın ______ ay (fifth).

5. Bu da ______ film (second).

Answers:

1. üçüncü

2. birinci

3. dördüncü

4. beşinci

5. ikinci

Exercise 2: Match the Ordinal Numbers

Match the Turkish ordinal numbers with their English translations:

1. onuncu

2. yedinci

3. sekizinci

4. ikinci

5. dördüncü

a. second

b. seventh

c. tenth

d. fourth

e. eighth

Answers:

1. c

2. b

3. e

4. a

5. d

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Turkish using ordinal numbers:

1. I am in the first class.

2. He finished in third place.

3. The festival is on the second week of July.

4. She lives on the sixth floor.

5. This is my fifth book.

Answers:

1. Ben birinci sınıftayım.

2. O, üçüncü oldu.

3. Festival, Temmuz'un ikinci haftasında.

4. O, altıncı katta yaşıyor.

5. Bu benim beşinci kitabım.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Write five sentences using ordinal numbers in Turkish. Example:

1. Ben dördüncü kitabı okuyorum. (I am reading the fourth book.)

Answers will vary.

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct ordinal number for the following:

1. ______ gün (second)

a) birinci

b) ikinci

c) üçüncü

Answer: b) ikinci

2. ______ yer (fifth)

a) dördüncü

b) beşinci

c) altıncı

Answer: b) beşinci

3. ______ ay (ninth)

a) sekizinci

b) dokuzuncu

c) onuncu

Answer: b) dokuzuncu

4. ______ hafta (first)

a) birinci

b) üçüncü

c) dördüncü

Answer: a) birinci

5. ______ oyuncu (seventh)

a) altıncı

b) yedinci

c) beşinci

Answer: b) yedinci

Exercise 6: Listening Practice

Listen to a native speaker pronounce the following ordinal numbers and write them down:

1. ikinci

2. beşinci

3. dördüncü

4. üçüncü

5. onuncu

Answers will vary based on listening exercise.

Exercise 7: Identify the Correct Form

Identify the correct ordinal form for the following cardinal numbers:

1. 4: ______

2. 11: ______

3. 20: ______

4. 3: ______

5. 7: ______

Answers:

1. dördüncü

2. on birinci

3. yirminci

4. üçüncü

5. yedinci

Exercise 8: Group Activity

In pairs, take turns asking each other about your favorite places (e.g., "What is your favorite third restaurant?"). Use ordinal numbers in your responses.

Answers will vary.

Exercise 9: Write a Short Paragraph

Write a short paragraph about your daily routine, using at least five ordinal numbers.

Answers will vary.

Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself

Create a quiz for yourself with at least ten ordinal numbers in Turkish and their English meanings.

Answers will vary.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the lesson on ordinal numbers! You've taken an important step in mastering Turkish vocabulary, which will be incredibly useful in your daily conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using these ordinal numbers in your speech and writing.

Feel free to refer back to this lesson whenever you need a refresher. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Turkish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Turkish Alphabet

• Vowels and Consonants
• Pronunciation

  ---

Basic Grammar

• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Pronouns

  ---

Complex Grammar

• Cases
• Participles
• Conditional Sentences

  ---

Everyday Phrases

• Greeting
• Asking for Directions
• Food and Drink
• Shopping

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Ordinal Numbers
• Time

  ---

Turkish Culture

• History and Geography
• Traditions and Customs
• Cuisine
• Arts and Festivals

  ---

Daily Life

• Housing
• Family and Relationships
• Religion
• Transportation and Travel

Sources

• Turkish Numbers For Beginners – StoryLearning
• Numbers and Counting in Turkish | Ordinal numbers, Learn turkish ...
• Turkish Vocabulary Lists - Tobo

Other Lessons

• Spring
• Months of the Year
• False Friends
• People in Turkish
• Asking for Directions
• Supermarket
• Clothes
• Basic expression
• Classroom

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