1st, 2nd, 3rd, Te Reo Numbers and Number Lines

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What this lesson covers

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th tell you a position in order.
  • Most positions end in -th, but 1st, 2nd and 3rd are special.
  • Te reo Māori numbers say the tens, then the ones.
  • You can find a number on a line by looking at the labels on each side.
Key idea

First, second, third

  • In a running race, the winner comes 1st.
  • Next comes 2nd, then 3rd, then 4th.
  • These numbers tell you a position, not how many.
PositionWrittenSay it
11stfirst
22ndsecond
33rdthird
44thfourth
55thfifth
1010thtenth
Key idea

Which ending?

  • A position ending in 1 uses -st. Ending in 2 uses -nd. Ending in 3 uses -rd.
  • Everything else uses -th.
  • 11th, 12th and 13th break the rule. They use -th.
Ends withExamples
-st1st, 21st
-nd2nd, 22nd
-rd3rd, 23rd
-th4th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 20th
Key idea

Try it: which ending?

Key idea

Te reo Māori numbers from 1 to 10

  • Count from 1 to 10 in te reo Māori.
  • Say them out loud, then count your fingers with them.
NumberTe reo Māori
1tahi
2rua
3toru
4whā
5rima
6ono
7whitu
8waru
9iwa
10tekau
Key idea

Te reo numbers use tens and ones

  • Tekau mā tahi is ten and one more: 11.
  • Rua tekau is two tens: 20.
  • Rua tekau mā tahi is two tens and one: 21.
mā means and
NumberTe reo MāoriMeans
11tekau mā tahiten and 1
15tekau mā rimaten and 5
20rua tekautwo tens
21rua tekau mā tahitwo tens and 1
23rua tekau mā torutwo tens and 3
30toru tekauthree tens
Key idea

Try it: how many tens?

Worked example

Find 17 on a number line

  • This line only shows 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20.
  • 17 is more than 15 and less than 20.
  • Start at 15 and hop 2 more: 16, 17.
NumberBetweenCloser to
1715 and 2015
85 and 1010
1210 and 1510
2420 and 2525
Key idea

Try it: hop to 17

Common mistakes

  • Writing second as 2th.
    Second is 2nd. A position ending in 2 uses -nd.
  • Writing twelfth as 12nd.
    Twelfth is 12th. 11th, 12th and 13th all use -th.
  • Rua tekau is 12.
    Rua tekau is two tens, 20. Twelve is tekau mā rua.
  • 17 goes just after the 10 on a line labelled in 5s.
    17 goes just after the 15, two hops along.

Your turn

1

Which position comes after 2nd?

2

What is 4 in te reo Māori?

3

What number is rua tekau mā tahi?

4

A line is labelled 0, 5, 10, 15, 20. Which two labels is 17 between?

5

What is 30 in te reo Māori?

Show answer

1. 3rd 2. whā 3. 21 4. 15 and 20 5. toru tekau

Summary

What to take away

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, then -th.
  • Te reo numbers say tens, then mā, then ones.
  • On a number line, find the labels on each side first.
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More in Number

Counting to 100 and Place ValueNotes1st, 2nd, 3rd, Te Reo Numbers and Number LinesNotesGroups, Pairs and Counting in 2s and 10sNotesNumber Facts to 10, Doubles and Adding to 20NotesJoining, Taking Away and Equal GroupsNotesHalves and QuartersNotesSharing Fairly: From Halves to QuartersNotesNew Zealand Coins and NotesNotes

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