When it comes to using numbers in English, it is common to encounter different formats such as cardinal and ordinal numbers. These two formats can be confusing, especially when it comes to determining whether to use “19” or “19th” in a sentence. However, fear not, for I am here to shed light on this matter and guide you through the correct usage of these numerical expressions.
To put it simply, “19” is a cardinal number, while “19th” is an ordinal number. Cardinal numbers are used to denote quantity or count, while ordinal numbers indicate position or order. So, when you want to refer to the quantity of something, you would use the cardinal number “19”. For example, “There are 19 students in the class” or “He has 19 books on his shelf”.
On the other hand, if you want to indicate the position or order of something in a series or a sequence, you would use the ordinal number “19th”. For instance, “She came in 19th place in the race” or “This is the 19th chapter of the book”. In these examples, “19th” is used to indicate the specific place or order of something within a series or sequence.
It is important to note that when using ordinal numbers, it is common practice to write them in their numerical form, followed by the appropriate ending. In the case of “19th”, the ending “-th” is added to the cardinal number “19” to form the ordinal number. This rule applies to all numbers ending in “1”, “2”, and “3”, except for numbers ending in “11”, “12”, and “13”, which use the endings “-th”, “-th”, and “-th”, respectively. For example, we say “21st” (twenty-first), “32nd” (thirty-second), and “113th” (one hundred thirteenth).
To further illustrate the correct usage of “19” and “19th”, let’s take a look at some more examples:
1. “I bought 19 apples from the store.” (Showing quantity)
2. “This is my 19th attempt at solving this puzzle.” (Showing order)
3. “There are 19 members in the committee.” (Showing quantity)
4. “She ranked 19th in the competition.” (Showing order)
5. “My flight is on the 19th of July.” (Showing date)
In conclusion, the correct usage of “19” or “19th” depends on whether you want to indicate quantity (cardinal) or order (ordinal). “19” is used to show quantity, while “19th” is used to denote order. Remember to add the appropriate endings (-th, -nd, -rd, or -st) to the cardinal number when forming the ordinal number. By following this simple rule, you will be able to use “19” or “19th” correctly in your everyday English conversations.