Numeral adjective plays a vital role in our language, allowing us to quantify and describe quantities with ease. From cardinal numerals that count objects to ordinal numerals that denote order, this blog explores the various types and usage of numeral adjectives.
What is a Numeral Adjective?
A numeral adjective is a type of adjective that describes or modifies a noun by indicating a number or quantity. It tells us how many or in what order something is. It helps us count or quantify things.
For example:
“I have three apples.” In this sentence, “three” is a numeral adjective because it tells us the number of apples.
“She is the first student in the class.” Here, “first” is a numeral adjective because it indicates the order or position of the student.
Numeral adjectives can be used to count things (cardinal numerals) or indicate order (ordinal numerals). They can also express fractions, multiples, or collective quantities.
Understanding numeral adjectives is important because they allow us to provide specific information about quantities or sequences. They help us communicate effectively when talking about numbers and counting.
Types of Numeral Adjectives
Let’s explore the different types of numeral adjectives in simple terms:
1. Cardinal Numeral Adjectives:
Cardinal numeral adjectives are used to count or indicate the quantity of something. They answer the question “How many?” Examples include “one,” “two,” “three,” and so on. Cardinal numeral adjectives give us the exact number of items or individuals.
For example:
- There are five cats in the garden.
- She bought three books from the store.
- I have two cats as pets.
- She bought five new books.
- They have three children.
2. Ordinal Numeral Adjectives:
Ordinal numeral adjectives are used to indicate the order or position of something. They answer the question “In what order?” Examples include “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on. Ordinal numeral adjectives give us the sequence or rank of items.
For example:
- He finished in third place in the race.
- I am the second child in my family.
- He finished in first place in the race.
- She is the second student in the line.
- This is the third time I’ve visited this museum.
3. Multiplicative Numeral Adjectives:
Multiplicative numeral adjectives are used to express multiplication or multiples. They answer the question “How many times?” Examples include “double,” “triple,” “quadruple,” and so on. Multiplicative numeral adjectives indicate that the quantity is multiplied or increased.
For example:
- She earned double the amount of money this month.
- The population has tripled in the last decade.
- He earned double the amount of money this month.
- The recipe requires triple the amount of flour.
- The population has quadrupled in the last century.
4. Fractional Numeral Adjectives:
Fractional numeral adjectives are used to express fractions or parts of a whole. They answer the question “What fraction?” Examples include “half,” “quarter,” “third,” and so on. Fractional numeral adjectives represent a portion or division of something.
For example:
- Please give me half of the pizza.
- He drank a quarter of the glass of water.
- She ate half of the cake.
- I drank a quarter of the glass of juice.
- Only a third of the students completed the assignment.
5. Collective Numeral Adjectives:
Collective numeral adjectives are used to indicate a group or collection of items or individuals. They answer the question “How many as a group?” Examples include “dozen,” “couple,” “pair,” and so on. Collective numeral adjectives represent a specific quantity when referring to a group.
For example:
- She bought a dozen roses for her mother.
- They have a couple of dogs as pets.
- We need a dozen eggs for the recipe.
- They bought a couple of new shoes.
- There are hundreds of people attending the concert.
Usage of Numeral Adjectives
Let’s explore the usage of numeral adjectives in simple terms:
Countable Nouns:
Numeral adjectives are commonly used with countable nouns, which are objects or entities that can be counted as discrete units. They help us specify the quantity or number of countable nouns.
For example:
- “I have three books on my shelf.”
- “There are five apples in the basket.”
- “He has two cars parked in his garage.”
Uncountable Nouns:
Numeral adjectives can also be used with uncountable nouns, which are objects or substances that cannot be counted as discrete units. In this case, they indicate a specific quantity or amount of the uncountable noun.
For example:
- “She drank a cup of coffee.”
- “I need a little bit of sugar for my recipe.”
- “He bought two gallons of milk from the store.”
Plural Nouns:
When using numeral adjectives with plural nouns, they indicate the quantity or number of items in the plural form.
For example:
- “There are three cats in the garden.”
- “I have two sisters and a brother.”
- “They planted five trees in the park.”
Quantifying Expressions:
Numeral adjectives can also be part of quantifying expressions, which provide an approximate or general quantity without specifying an exact number.
For example:
- “There were dozens of people at the concert.”
- “She bought a couple of new dresses.”
- “He received several letters in the mail.”
Position of Numeral Adjectives in a Sentence
Let’s explore the position of numeral adjectives in a sentence in simple terms:
Pre-nominal Position:
Numeral adjectives can appear before the noun they modify in what is called the pre-nominal position. This is the most common position for numeral adjectives in English.
For example:
- “Three cats are playing in the garden.”
- “She bought five books from the store.”
- “I have two brothers and a sister.”
In these sentences, the numeral adjectives “three,” “five,” and “two” come before the nouns “cats,” “books,” and “brothers/sister” respectively.
Post-nominal Position:
In some cases, especially in more formal or poetic contexts, numeral adjectives can appear after the noun they modify in what is called the post-nominal position.
For example:
- “The cat in the garden, three it was.”
- “The books from the store, five she bought.”
- “The siblings, two brothers, and a sister.”
In these sentences, the numeral adjectives “three,” “five,” and “two” come after the nouns “cat,” “books,” and “siblings” respectively.
Note that the post-nominal position is less common in everyday speech and writing, but it can be used for emphasis or stylistic purposes.
Exceptions:
It’s important to note that some numeral adjectives have a fixed position in certain expressions or idiomatic phrases. These expressions have specific word order patterns that should be followed.
For example:
- “First things first.”
- “Second to none.”
- “One of a kind.”
In these cases, the numeral adjectives “first,” “second,” and “one” have a fixed position and cannot be moved before or after the noun they modify.
