Course Content
English A1 – Beginner

This lesson provides the essential vocabulary for counting, stating quantities, and discussing order, which is necessary for telling time, saying dates, and handling prices.

1. Lesson Goals

  • Count and state amounts from 0 to 100 (Cardinal Numbers).
  • Correctly use and spell the main Ordinal Numbers.
  • State your age and understand simple prices and phone numbers.
  • Use ordinal numbers for sequencing and dates.

2. Introduction: Cardinal Numbers

Greetings, knowledge seekers! I’m your guide, Benjamin Franklin, and today we embark on a journey with numbers—the very foundation of time, trade, and our deepest thoughts.

Let’s start with the basics and build our confidence.

First, let’s master the numbers one through ten.

Say them with me, loud and clear: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Excellent!

Now, let’s continue to twenty. These are essential for everything from dates to currency.

Repeat after me: eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty. Wonderful.

Next, we’ll leap forward by counting in tens: thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, and one hundred.

This skill is vital for measuring money, distance, and time.

Try using numbers in your daily conversations. For example: “I have two books,” or “She is twenty-five years old.” Practice makes perfect!

In our next lesson, we will explore how to rank and order things.

Until then, keep counting! If you found this helpful, please like this video and subscribe for more lessons. 

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3. Part A: Cardinal Numbers (Counting and Quantity)

Cardinal numbers tell us how many of something there are. They answer the question, How many?

A.1. Core Vocabulary (0-20)

These numbers are the foundation. Note that the teen numbers (13-19) are different from the ty numbers (30, 40, etc.).

Numbers 0–10:

Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten

Numbers 11–20:

Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty

A.2. Number Pattern After Tens (21-99)

After twenty, the numbers follow a simple pattern. Each group of ten begins with a base (twenty, thirty, forty…) and then adds the endings one through nine, using a hyphen.

Base Number +1 +3 +9
20 twenty-one twenty-three twenty-nine
40 forty-one forty-three forty-nine
90 ninety-one ninety-three ninety-nine

A.3. Functional Use: Age, Phone, and Price

Function Question Answer Structure
Age How old are you?

I am twentyeight years old.

Phone What’s your phone number?

Say numbers individually:555-09-12 is “five five five – oh nine – one two.”

Price How much is it?

It is eight dollars and fifty cents.

4. Introduction: Ordinal Numbers

Script Summary: If cardinal numbers count things, ordinal numbers rank them. First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth—not just numbers, but positions. Let’s learn how to place things in order.

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5. Part B: Ordinal Numbers (Order and Rank)

Ordinal numbers show position or order—not how many, but which one. We use them for rankings, dates, and steps.

B.1. Form: How to Write Ordinal Numbers

The abbreviation is the number plus the last two letters of the ordinal word. Some are irregular (1st, 2nd, 3rd), while most are regular (ending in -th).

Irregular Forms

Cardinal Ordinal (Word)

Abbreviation
1 first 1st
2 second 2nd
3 third 3rd

Note: These three are irregular and must be memorized.

Regular Forms (4–20)

Cardinal Ordinal (Word)

Abbreviation
4 fourth 4th
5 fifth 5th
6 sixth 6th
7 seventh 7th
8 eighth 8th
9 ninth 9th
10 tenth 10th
11 eleventh 11th
12 twelfth 12th
13 thirteenth 13th
14 fourteenth 14th
15 fifteenth 15th
16 sixteenth 16th
17 seventeenth 17th
18 eighteenth 18th
19 nineteenth 19th
20 twentieth 20th

Compound Numbers (21+)

After 20, the pattern repeats. The abbreviation follows the last digit of the number:

Cardinal Ordinal (Word)

Abbreviation
21 twenty-first 21st
22 twenty-second 22nd
23 twenty-third 23rd
24 twenty-fourth 24th

Example: “Her birthday is on the 21st of June.”

Tens (20, 30, 40…)

Cardinal Ordinal (Word)

Abbreviation
20 twentieth 20th
30 thirtieth 30th
40 fortieth 40th
50 fiftieth 50th
60 sixtieth 60th
70 seventieth 70th
80 eightieth 80th
90 ninetieth 90th
100 one hundredth 100th

B.2. Functional Use

  • Dates: The meeting is on September 1st.
  • Rankings & Positions: “He finished in third place.”
  • Instructions & Steps: “Read the first paragraph.” / “The main office is on the third floor.”

6. Practice: Practical Numbers

Your Task: Write the number in words or solve the problem based on the context. Remember to use Cardinal or Ordinal rules as necessary.

  • Age: My grandmother is 87. → ________
  • Price: The total bill is $45.20. → ________
  • Sequence: We live on the 23rd floor. → ________
  • Math: Seventy minus nineteen equals → ________
  • Date: The date for the party is the 12th. → ________