twenty-eighth
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 28; the position following the twenty-seventh.
Used to denote the 28th day of a month, the 28th item in a sequence, or a fraction equal to one part in 28.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as an ordinal numeral and secondarily as a noun (e.g., 'the twenty-eighth of the month'). It can also function attributively as an adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Date formatting differs: UK prefers '28th January', US prefers 'January 28th'.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the + twenty-eighth + of + [Month]on + the + twenty-eighthher + twenty-eighth + [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the twenty-eighth time's the charm (humorous variation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in deadlines, report dates, and fiscal periods (e.g., 'Payment is due on the twenty-eighth').
Academic
Used in referencing dates, sequences in lists, or historical events.
Everyday
Primarily used for dates, birthdays, and anniversaries.
Technical
Used in numbering sequences, versions, or positions in ordered data.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Her twenty-eighth birthday party is next week.
- We're staying on the twenty-eighth floor.
American English
- His twenty-eighth attempt finally succeeded.
- The twenty-eighth amendment was ratified.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My birthday is on the twenty-eighth of May.
- She is twenty-eighth in the queue.
- The meeting has been rescheduled for the twenty-eighth.
- He finished in twenty-eighth place in the race.
- Upon reaching his twenty-eighth year, he decided to change careers.
- The treaty was signed on the twenty-eighth of the month.
- The manuscript, dated the twenty-eighth, provides crucial evidence for the timeline.
- Her twenty-eighth publication established her as a leading authority in the field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Twenty' plus 'eighth' – it's the eighth item after the twentieth.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IN A SERIES IS A LOCATION (e.g., 'arriving at the twenty-eighth position').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'двадцать восемь' (cardinal). The correct ordinal is 'двадцать восьмой/восьмая/восьмое'.
- In dates, Russian uses the genitive case for the month: 'двадцать восьмого января'.
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'twenty-eight' (cardinal) instead of 'twenty-eighth'.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ˈtwenti eɪt/ instead of /ˈtwenti eɪtθ/.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'twenty-eighth' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can function as both. In 'the twenty-eighth day', it's an adjective (determiner). In 'the twenty-eighth of May', it's a noun.
It is written as 'twenty-eighth' with a hyphen.
The '-th' is pronounced as an unvoiced dental fricative /θ/. Be careful not to omit it and say 'eight' instead of 'eighth' /eɪtθ/.
No, the spelling 'twenty-eighth' is standard in both varieties. The main difference is in date format, not the word itself.