Before and after numbers

The number just before is 1 less, and the number just after is 1 more. The number between two others sits in the middle.

The idea: 1 less and 1 more

“Before” and “after” are about the counting order. The number just before 15 is 14, because 14 is 1 less. The number just after 15 is 16, because 16 is 1 more.

“Between” means in the middle. 15 is between 14 and 16. Children who understand this can find their way around any number, not just count from 1.

See it: pictures to draw with your child

Copy these onto paper or a whiteboard. A quick sketch makes the idea concrete before any written method.

1011121314151617181920
14 is just before 15, and 16 is just after.
3536373839404142434445
Around a ten: 39 is before 40, and 41 is after.
21222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495010 less: 30 · 10 more: 50 (straight up and down)
On the hundreds chart, the number before 40 is at the end of the row: 39.

On a number line

On a number line, before is one step to the left and after is one step to the right. Children can point and move a finger along.

The number line also shows “between” clearly. Ask your child to find two numbers with a gap and name the number in the gap.

Before and after a ten

The hardest cases cross a ten. The number after 39 is 40, and the number before 40 is 39. Many children say 30 before 40, because they think of the tens.

Practice these on the hundreds chart. The number before a ten is at the end of the row above.

Find before and after on the hundreds chart

Tap a number, then say the number before it and after it. Check by looking left and right.

Bigger numbers

Grade 1 works with numbers to 120. The number after 109 is 110, and the number before 101 is 100. The same rule works: 1 less and 1 more.

Later, the same idea gives 10 more and 10 less, and 100 more and 100 less. See 10 more and 10 less.

Before and after in real life

House numbers, page numbers and the floors in a building all use before and after. Ask your child which page comes after page 23, or which house is next door.

Waiting in a queue works too. Who is just before you, and who is just after? These small questions build the habit of thinking 1 more and 1 less without counting from 1.

Key words

Teaching tip: use your body

Stand on a floor number line, or on stair steps. “Before” is a step back and “after” is a step forward.

Young children understand moving their own body long before they understand a picture. After a few days, move to a finger on a paper line.

A week of practice

Ten minutes a day is plenty. Short, regular practice beats one long session at the weekend.

If one day goes badly, repeat it rather than moving on. Each day builds on the one before.

Quiz: before, after and between

Before is 1 less. After is 1 more.

Where this fits: number sense step by step

  1. Counting objects
  2. Subitizing
  3. Ten frames
  4. More and fewer
  5. Number bonds
  6. Teen numbers
  7. Counting to 120
  8. Before, after and between (this page)
  9. Number line
  10. Ordinal numbers
  11. Skip counting
  12. Even and odd numbers
  13. Number patterns
  14. Estimation

What to say to your child

A short script for teaching it the first time. Pause after each line and let your child do the next step.

  1. “What number comes after 7?” (8.)
  2. “And before 7?” (6.)
  3. “What number is between 6 and 8?” (7.)
  4. “What comes after 29?” (30.)
  5. “What comes before 50?” (49.)

More worked examples

Example 1: After

The number after 46 is 47, because 47 is 1 more.

Example 2: Before

The number before 60 is 59.

Example 3: Between

The number between 18 and 20 is 19.

Example 4: Past 100

The number after 109 is 110.

Practice questions (answers below)

Ask these out loud or write them down. Check each answer, and ask “how did you get that?” for one or two.

  1. What comes after 13?
  2. What comes before 13?
  3. What is between 24 and 26?
  4. What comes after 39?
  5. What comes before 70?
  6. What comes after 99?
  7. What is between 99 and 101?
  8. What comes before 101?
  9. What comes after 119?
  10. Stretch: what number is 2 before 50?
Show the answers
  1. 14
  2. 12
  3. 25
  4. 40
  5. 69
  6. 100
  7. 100
  8. 100
  9. 120
  10. 48

Common mistakes

Mixing up before and afterSays 16 is before 15.Fix: before is 1 less. Point to the number line and step left.
Using tens by mistakeSays 30 comes before 40.Fix: before 40 is 1 less: 39.
Skipping a number betweenSays 17 is between 15 and 16.Fix: count them: 15, 16. There is no number between them.

How to teach it at home

Floor line

Tape numbers on the floor. Stand on one and step before or after as you call it out.

Card sandwich

Pick a number card. Your child finds the cards just before and after it and makes a sandwich.

Lift buttons

In a lift or on stairs, ask which floor is just before or just after.

By grade

More for each grade: Kindergarten math; Grade 1 math and the CBSE class 1 maths guide.

Worksheets and practice

Before, after and between worksheet, page 1

Before, after and between worksheet: printable PDF with an answer key. · Make a fresh test

Number sense practice · hundreds chart · number sense for kids · number chart · counting worksheet · hundreds chart worksheet · before, after and between (PDF)

Last reviewed

Questions parents ask

What does before and after mean in math?

The number before is 1 less, and the number after is 1 more. Before 15 is 14, and after 15 is 16.

What number is between 6 and 8?

7. It is 1 more than 6 and 1 less than 8.

How do you teach before and after numbers?

Use a number line or stairs. Before is a step back and after is a step forward.

What comes after 29?

30. After a 9 comes the next ten.

What grade learns before and after?

Kindergarten and grade 1, as part of counting (K.CC.A.2 and 1.NBT.A.1).