4

Meanings

1. 1number

   The number equal to two plus two, coming after three and before five.

   Grammar: Used as a number, either as a digit or spelled out as 'four'.

   Patterns

   • 4 of something
   • 4 times
   • 4 o'clock

   There are 4 apples in the bowl.

   She has 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

   The meeting is at 4 o'clock.

2. 2nouncountable

   The number 4; a group or set of four things.

   Grammar: Can be used as a countable noun: a four, the four of us.

   Patterns

   • a 4
   • the 4 of us
   • in 4s

   I rolled a 4 on the dice.

   The four of us went to the beach.

   Arrange the chairs in 4s.

3. 3adjectivebefore a noun

   Being four in number; amounting to four.

   Grammar: Used before a noun to indicate the quantity: 4 people, 4 days.

   Patterns

   • 4 people
   • 4 days
   • 4 years old

   We need 4 chairs for the table.

   The baby is 4 months old.

   It's a 4-hour drive to the city.

Common combinations

4 o'clock

Let's meet at 4 o'clock.

4 times

I've been to Paris 4 times.

4 years old

My son is 4 years old.

4 of us

There are 4 of us in the car.

4 percent

The interest rate is 4 percent.

4 out of 5

4 out of 5 students passed the exam.

Word family

four number

The word form of the number 4.

fourth adjective

Coming after the third; one of four equal parts.

fourteen number

The number 14, equal to ten plus four.

forty number

The number 40, equal to four times ten.

Commonly confused: 4 or for? 4 or fore?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “4”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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