What is an Adjective of Number?

S2-SA1-0043

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

An Adjective of Number tells us 'how many' of something there are. It describes a noun by giving its exact count or its position in a series. These adjectives answer the question 'How many?' or 'Which one?'

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have some delicious ladoos. If you say, 'I ate *two* ladoos,' the word 'two' tells us exactly how many ladoos you ate. Here, 'two' is an Adjective of Number because it describes the noun 'ladoos' by telling its quantity.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the Adjective of Number in the sentence: 'My mother bought *five* kilograms of rice.'
---Step 1: Identify the noun being described. The noun here is 'kilograms of rice'.
---Step 2: Ask the question 'How many?' about the noun. How many kilograms of rice?
---Step 3: Look for the word that answers 'how many'. The word 'five' answers this question.
---Step 4: Therefore, 'five' is the Adjective of Number because it tells us the exact quantity of rice.
---Answer: The Adjective of Number is 'five'.

Why It Matters

Understanding Adjectives of Number is crucial for clear communication in many fields. Journalists use them to report accurate figures, while lawyers need precise numbers for legal documents. In social sciences, correctly stating quantities helps in analyzing data and presenting facts, which is important for careers in research or public policy.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Confusing Adjectives of Number with Adjectives of Quantity. For example, saying 'many' is an Adjective of Number. | CORRECTION: Adjectives of Number give an exact count (like 'three', 'first'). Adjectives of Quantity (like 'many', 'some', 'much') tell us 'how much' but not an exact number.

MISTAKE: Not recognizing ordinal numbers as Adjectives of Number. For example, thinking 'second' is not an Adjective of Number. | CORRECTION: Ordinal numbers (first, second, third) show position and are also Adjectives of Number because they answer 'Which one?'.

MISTAKE: Using Adjectives of Number incorrectly with uncountable nouns. For example, saying 'three waters'. | CORRECTION: Adjectives of Number (like 'one', 'two') are used with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns (like water, sugar), we use Adjectives of Quantity or specific units (e.g., 'three bottles of water').

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Identify the Adjective of Number: 'There are *seven* days in a week.' | ANSWER: seven

QUESTION: Fill in the blank with an Adjective of Number: 'This is the _____ time I am visiting the Taj Mahal.' | ANSWER: first (or second, third, etc. - any ordinal number)

QUESTION: In the sentence, 'Our school cricket team scored *150* runs in the *first* match,' identify both Adjectives of Number. | ANSWER: 150, first

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following sentences contains an Adjective of Number?

She has much patience.

He bought some mangoes.

My brother won the first prize.

There is little water in the jug.

The Correct Answer Is:

Option C, 'first,' tells us the specific position of the prize, making it an Adjective of Number. Options A, B, and D use 'much,' 'some,' and 'little,' which are Adjectives of Quantity, not number.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you check the score of an IPL cricket match, you see 'Mumbai Indians won by *5* wickets' or 'Chennai Super Kings scored *200* runs'. The numbers '5' and '200' are Adjectives of Number, giving us precise information. Similarly, when you order groceries online, the app tells you 'You have *3* items in your cart,' using Adjectives of Number to keep track of your order.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

ADJECTIVE: A word that describes a noun or pronoun. | NOUN: A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. | COUNTABLE NOUNS: Nouns that can be counted (e.g., books, chairs). | ORDINAL NUMBERS: Numbers that show position in a series (e.g., first, second). | CARDINAL NUMBERS: Numbers that show exact quantity (e.g., one, two).

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about Adjectives of Number! Next, you should explore Adjectives of Quantity. This will help you understand how to describe nouns when you don't know the exact count, giving you a complete picture of how adjectives work.