Question about numbers-

Question

How would you explain the differance of cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers in Spanish?

I understand that ordinal numbers are 1,2,3 and that cardinal numbers are 1st, 2nd, 3rd but how do I describe that!???

Thank You

You have them backwards. - 0074b507, Nov 9, 2011

Answer 1

¡Hola!, Sora:

The DICCIONARIO DE LA LENGUA ESPAÑOLA - REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA which we often refer to as DRAE, there are the following definitions:

numero cardinal. 1. masculino. Matemáticas. Cada uno de los números enteros en abstracto; p. ej., cero, diez, mil. numero ordinal. 2. masculino. Matemáticas. El que expresa ideas de orden o sucesión; p. ej., primero, segundo, tercero.

I understand these to mean, in English,:
- for cardinal number - each of the integers in the abstract, for example zero,ten,thousand
- for ordinal number - expressing ideas of order or succession, for example first, second, third

Are these definitions or explanations you can use??

Muchos saludos/Best regards,

Moe

Gracias!! That helps a lot!! - sora62896, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 2

Hmmm, I don't understand the question.

How do you describe that?

For example:

YOu are the first in the class.

Eres la primera en la clase

Answer 3

you don't describe it

That's really a lot of help... - sora62896, Nov 8, 2011

*sarcasm* - sora62896, Nov 8, 2011