2.249 Referring to things in a sequence: ordinal numbers

If you want to identify or describe something by indicating where it comes in a series or sequence, you use an ordinal number.

• Quietly they took their seats in the first three rows.
• Flora's flat is on the fourth floor of this five-storey block.
• They stopped at the first of the trees.

Note that you can also use 'following', 'last', 'next', 'preceding', 'previous', and 'subsequent' like ordinal numbers to indicate where something comes in a series or sequence.

• The following morning he checked out of the hotel.
• ...the last rungs of the fire-escape.
• ...at the next general election.
• The theory stated in the preceding chapters is invaluable.
• I mentioned this in a previous programme.
• ...the subsequent career patterns of those taking degrees.

'Following', 'subsequent', 'previous', and 'preceding' are only used to indicate something's position in a sequence in time or in a piece of writing. 'Next' and 'last' are used more generally, for example to refer to things in rows or lists.