53.5 Referring to Items in Sequential Order
In this lesson, we will learn to compare different items. When comparing different items, we often need to refer to one of the items in the context. We will learn several ways to do so.
第 dai6 ('first, second, etc.')
The first way is to use sequential order. In Lesson 0, we learned that we can use the prefix 第 dai6 to form ordinal numbers ('first, second, etc.').
We can use an ordinal number with a noun. We first say the ordinal number, and then the classifier and the noun.
We often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after the ordinal number.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
頭 tau4 (‘first’)
The adjective 頭 tau4 also means ‘first’. We can use it to refer to the first item or the first several items. We put a quantity after 頭 tau4. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 頭 tau4. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5 (‘last’)
The adjectives 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5 (also pronounced as zeoi3 mei1) mean ‘last’. We can use them to refer to the last item or the last several items. We put a quantity after 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
上 soeng6 (‘previous’) and 下 haa6 (‘next’)
The adjectives 上 soeng6 and 下 haa6 mean ‘previous’ and ‘next’ respectively. We can use them to refer to the previous item(s) or the next item(s). We put a quantity after 上 soeng6 and 下 haa6. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.
We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 上 soeng6 or 下 haa6. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.
Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.