First Second and Later

Level 1

Prvi means first, drugi second and treći third. Ordinal numbers agree with a noun in gender, number and case.

How It Works

The basic masculine forms begin prvi, drugi, treći, četvrti, peti. Feminine and neuter nouns require corresponding forms such as prva and prvo.

Inside a sentence, the ordinal follows the noun’s case: na prvom katu uses locative agreement. Do not keep the dictionary form prvi when the phrase needs another case.

In figures, write a full stop to show ordinal value: 3. kat. This mark remains part of the ordinal notation even near other punctuation. A cardinal number such as tri counts three objects and has a different construction.

Examples (4)

  1. Ovo je moj prvi posjet.

    This is my first visit.

    Prvi agrees with masculine posjet.

  2. Ana je prva na redu.

    Ana is first in line.

    Prva describes a feminine singular subject.

  3. Živim na trećem katu.

    I live on the third floor.

    Trećem takes the case of the locative phrase.

  4. Čitam 2. poglavlje.

    I am reading the second chapter.

    The full stop marks an ordinal numeral.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

First Second and LaterLevel 1

Learn This First

Ordinal numbers inflect as agreeing adjectives, rather than as invariant labels.

Words in This Pattern

prvidrugitrećipetišestisedmiosmidevetideseti