Meaning & use
3
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Meanings
numberbefore a noun
The whole number equal to two plus one.
Grammar: Stands before a noun to give a count: 3 cups; contrast the ordinal 3rd cup.
Patterns
- 3 cups
- 3 times
- 3 people
Add 3 cups of rice to the pot.
The baby is 3 months old now.
We need 3 volunteers for Saturday.
numbercountable
Used as a noun for an amount, answer, score, or position in counting.
Grammar: Can follow an or the: a 3 on the test; plural 3s is rare outside labels or math talk.
Patterns
- the number 3
- a 3
- from 1 to 3
Circle the number 3 on the page.
She rolled a 3 and moved her piece.
Choose a rating from 1 to 3.
numberfixed phraseinformalcomputing
In texting, the digit inside “<3” to make a sideways heart for love or affection.
Grammar: Appears only in the fixed symbol <3; it is not read as the number in that use.
Patterns
- <3
- send someone <3
- reply with <3
After the good news, she texted “<3.”
He replied “<3” to thank his sister.
The comment was just a simple “<3.”
Common combinations
- 3 times
- I have called 3 times this morning.
- 3 years old
- The museum is 3 years old this month.
- top 3
- Her essay made the top 3 in the contest.
- 3 in a row
- The team won 3 games in a row.
- <3
- She ended the message with “<3.”
Word family
Commonly confused: 3 or 3rd? 3 or <3?
3 vs 3rd
3 tells how many; 3rd tells position in an order.
3 vs <3
The digit 3 alone is a number; inside <3 it helps form a texting heart.
Practice
In a text message, “<3” usually expresses ___.
Choose one answer.
In texting, <3 is read as a sideways heart; the plain number 3 is just a count, and third place uses 3rd.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “3”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.