When it comes to expressing ordinal numbers, the question of whether to use “6th” or “6st” often puzzles English learners. The correct form is “6th,” and in this brief explanation, I will explore why.
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate a position or order in a series. They typically come after cardinal numbers, which represent quantity. For example, we would say “I have five apples” using the cardinal number “five,” but when we want to express the position of an apple within a series, we say “This is my 5th apple” using the ordinal number “5th.”
Now, let’s examine the specific case of the ordinal number for “6.” The general rule for forming ordinal numbers is to add “th” to the cardinal number, regardless of the ending of the cardinal number itself. This applies to all numbers except for “1st,” “2nd,” and “3rd,” which have irregular forms.
The irregular forms of “1st,” “2nd,” and “3rd” reflect historical linguistic evolution. In the past, these numbers were represented by endings such as “-st,” “-nd,” and “-rd,” respectively. Over time, the endings have become shortened to their current forms while the rest of the ordinal numbers have remained the same.
To further illustrate this concept, let’s consider some examples. We would say “The 6th book on the shelf” or “They finished in 6th place.” In both cases, we use “6th” to indicate the sixth position in a series. It would be incorrect to write “6st.” Can you imagine saying “The 6st book on the shelf”? It sounds unnatural and confusing because it goes against the established rules for forming ordinal numbers.
It is worth noting that similar to “6th,” all ordinal numbers from “7th” and onwards simply require the addition of “th” to the corresponding cardinal number. For instance, we say “The 7th chapter” or “He was the 12th person in line.”
To summarize, the correct form is “6th” when expressing the ordinal number for “6.” This follows the general rule of adding “th” to the cardinal number and is consistent with the systematic formation of ordinal numbers in English. It is essential to grasp these grammar rules to communicate effectively and avoid any confusion when expressing positions or orders in a series. Remember: “6th” is the way to go!