Order in a Series

Level 3

First through tenth have special article-bearing forms; higher rankings use article plus cardinal.

How It Works

The special forms are l-ewwel, it-tieni, it-tielet, ir-raba’, il-ħames, is-sitt, is-seba’, it-tmien, id-disa’, l-għaxar. These forms precede their noun. Preserve their article shapes and the apostrophes in raba’, seba’, disa’; they belong to ordinary spelling.

Compare ħames mistoqsijiet, ‘five questions’, with il-ħames mistoqsija, ‘the fifth question’. The second phrase identifies one question by its position. In these special prenominal forms, a feminine noun does not require an added feminine ending: it-tielet mistoqsija.

Higher dates and finishing positions use the definite article with a cardinal number. In Marija ġiet il-wieħed u għoxrin fit-tellieqa, the number identifies her twenty-first-place finish. It does not count twenty-one people. Interpret the numeral within its quantity, date or ranking construction.

Examples (3)

  1. it-tielet mistoqsija

    the third question

    Ordinal noun-phrase fragment with a feminine singular noun.

  2. is-seba’ ktieb

    the seventh book

    Ordinal noun-phrase fragment retaining the apostrophe.

  3. Marija ġiet il-wieħed u għoxrin fit-tellieqa.

    Marija came twenty-first in the race.

    Article plus cardinal identifies a higher finishing position.

How It Connects

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

Order in a SeriesLevel 3

Learn This First

Introduce position rather than quantity through the special first-to-tenth forms. Teach higher article-plus-cardinal finishing positions in their actual ranking context without extrapolating a complete higher noun-modifying paradigm.