Ah, the age-old question: 12 or 12th? When it comes to using numbers in English, it’s important to understand the rules governing their usage. Let’s dive in and unravel the mystery behind these two options.
In general, we use “12” when referring to the number itself, as a numeral. For example, “I have 12 apples,” or “She is 12 years old.” Here, “12” is simply a quantity or a measurement.
On the other hand, we use “12th” when we want to express the position of something in a sequence or to indicate an ordinal number. It is derived from the cardinal number “twelve” by adding the suffix “-th”. For instance, “She is the 12th person to arrive,” or “He finished in 12th place.” In these instances, we are talking about the order or rank of something in a series.
To illustrate further, let’s take a look at a few examples:
1. “I have 12 books on my shelf.” – Here, we use “12” to express the quantity of books.
2. “He is the 12th person in line.” – In this example, “12th” denotes that the person is in the twelfth position in the line.
3. “I celebrated my 12th birthday last week.” – In this case, “12th” is used to indicate the ordinal number of the birthday.
4. “She finished in 12th place in the race.” – Here, “12th” signifies the position she achieved out of all the participants.
So, the key distinction between “12” and “12th” is that “12” is used to denote a number or quantity, whereas “12th” is used to convey order or sequence. Think of it as the difference between counting the number of items (using “12”), and describing where something falls in a series (using “12th”).
It’s worth noting that there are a few irregularities to watch out for when using ordinal numbers. For example, “1st” is the exception to the rule, as it is formed by adding the suffix “-st” instead of “-th”. Similarly, “2nd” and “3rd” have their own unique forms. However, from “4th” onwards, the suffix “-th” is added consistently to form the ordinal numbers.
In conclusion, the choice between “12” and “12th” depends on whether you are referring to a quantity or an order. “12” is used when you want to express a number as a numeral, while “12th” is used to indicate position or rank in a series. By understanding this distinction, you can confidently use these terms in their appropriate contexts.