Adjectives of Number (Numeral Adjectives)

Adjectives of Number also called Numeral Adjectives show how many persons or things are meant.

These adjectives answer the question: (How many?)

They are further divided into two main classes – Definite Numerals and Indefinite Numerals

Definite numerals – show some exact numbers. They are of three kinds

• Cardinals (One, two, three, four)
• Ordinals (First, second, third, fourth)
• Multiplicatives (Single, double, triple, quadruple)

Example Sentences of Definite Numeral Adjectives in Cardinals:

1. There is only one ticket available for you.
2. There are two ways to reach this place.
3. The prize money has been distributed among three members equally.
4. This booklet contains only four chapters.
5. Kamal acted in five films simultaneously.
6. He ordered six shirts.
7. Mr. Reddy has been teaching English for twenty years.

Example Sentences of Definite Numeral Adjectives in Ordinals:

1. I am the first person to reach the ground.
2. I don’t understand the second chapter of this book.
3. Sheela secured the third position in the recent exams.
4. This is my fourth motorbike.
5. Children’s day is celebrated on fourteenth November
6.  Independence day is celebrated on fifteenth August.

Example Sentences of Definite Numeral Adjectives in Multiplicatives:

1. It is a double page pamphlet.
2. There is only a single room available in this hotel.
3. You will get triple benefits if you invest in this plan.

Indefinite numerals – do not show an exact number. They are applied to indefinite numbers. 

Ex., all, some, enough, none, many, few, a few, several, any, a lot of etc., 

Example Sentences of Indefinite numerals

1. Chitti has bought some mangoes.
2. I saw a few children in the class.
3. My friend booked all the tickets available.
4. Arjun saw no birds on the tree.
5. I have seen some students in the playground.
6. All roads lead to Rome.
7. Do you find any vegetables in the refrigerator?
8. There are several chapters in this book.
9. Anu bought some eggs.
10. In this flower festival, certain flowers are beautiful.
11. There are no books available to read in the library.
12. Most of the participants didn’t perform well in the programme.
13. The students brought some notebooks.
14. There are enough plates to serve the dinner.
15. With no qualifications, how do you get selected for this job?
16. Many participants did not respond well.

Points to Focus:

Some of these Indefinite Adjectives can also be used as Adjectives of Quantity

• Indefinite Numeral Adjectives refer to Countable Nouns whereas Adjectives of Quantity refer to Uncountable Nouns.
• Adjectives of Quantity refer to the approximate quantity of nouns whereas Indefinite Numeral Adjectives refer to the exact number of the noun in a sentence.

They are: all, most, some, none, no, more, enough, all, any, plenty of, a lot, etc.,

• I have bought some eggs. (Indefinite Numeral Adjective)
• I have bought some milk. (Adjective of Quantity)

• The captain got enough players. (Indefinite Numeral Adjective)
• The captain had enough practice. (Adjective of Quantity)

• They did not receive any emails from them. (Indefinite Numeral Adjective)
• They did not receive any response from the audience. (Adjective of Quantity)

• What is an Adjective
• Proper Adjectives
• Adjectives of Quality (Qualitative Adjectives/Descriptive Adjectives)
• Adjectives of Quantity (Quantitative Adjectives)
• Adjectives of Number (Numeral Adjectives)
• Demonstrative Adjectives
• Interrogative Adjectives
• Distributive Adjectives
• Possessive Adjectives (Pronominal)
• Emphasizing Adjectives
• Exclamatory Adjectives
• Participle Adjectives
• Relative Adjectives
• Compound Adjectives