Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Vajpayee is the thirteenth Prime Minister of India.

(the question should be about 'thirteenth' and not 'who?')

CP · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2875 Location: California

Which prime minister of India was the thirteenth?

Who was the thirteenth prime minister of India?

Can you name the thirteenth prime minister of India?

Was the thirteenth prime minister of India Vajpayee?

Was Vajpayee the thirteenth prime minister of India?

(Is this the sort of thing you are after?)
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KazAV · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

Or do you mean that the answer should be "thirteenth"?

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Thanks CP and KazAV. Yes, I want to know how to ask the question for which the answer is 'thirteenth'.

CP · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2875 Location: California

In the entire succession of India's prime ministers, what place did Vajpayee hold?

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Thanks a lot CP.

In most Indian languages, we can have a question word for 'thirteenth' and in these languages you can say "(*Whichth/howmanyth) Prime minister of India is Vajpayee?", "(*Whichth/howmanyth) President of the USA is Geoge Bush?" In some Indian languages, you can even say "which". My students always want to know how to say it in English. I give them answers more or less similar to what you gave me. But I wanted to check what a native speaker would say.