Numbers, Dates and Time

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• use numbers from 1 to 100 in everyday English
• say prices and phone numbers clearly
• name the days of the week
• name the months of the year
• understand and use ordinal numbers
• say and write dates in English
• ask and tell the time
• use common expressions about numbers, dates, and time

Lesson Goal: Learn how to use numbers, dates, and time naturally in everyday English.

2. Introduction

Numbers, dates, and time are an important part of everyday English. We use them when talking about age, prices, phone numbers, appointments, birthdays, schedules, travel, work, and many other situations.

In this lesson, you will learn how to use numbers from 1 to 100, say prices and phone numbers, talk about days and months, say dates, and tell the time.

You will also learn some useful expressions that you can use in real-life conversations.

Learning Tip: Don't try to memorise everything at once. Learn a small group of numbers, dates, or time expressions and practise using them in your own sentences.

3. Numbers 1–20

Let's start with the basic numbers from 1 to 20. These numbers are used very often in everyday English.

Number	Word	Number	Word
1	one	11	eleven
2	two	12	twelve
3	three	13	thirteen
4	four	14	fourteen
5	five	15	fifteen
6	six	16	sixteen
7	seven	17	seventeen
8	eight	18	eighteen
9	nine	19	nineteen
10	ten	20	twenty

Examples

• I have two brothers.
• There are ten students in the class.
• She is twenty years old.
• The room number is fifteen.

Pronunciation Tip: Pay attention to the difference between thirteen and thirty. The stress is different, so practise saying them aloud.

4. Numbers 21–100

After 20, English numbers follow a simple pattern. First learn the tens: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100.

Number	Word	Number	Word
20	twenty	60	sixty
30	thirty	70	seventy
40	forty	80	eighty
50	fifty	90	ninety
100	one hundred	—	—

How to Build Numbers

For numbers from 21 to 99, combine the tens with the smaller number. Use a hyphen when writing these numbers as words.

• 21 — twenty-one
• 35 — thirty-five
• 48 — forty-eight
• 62 — sixty-two
• 77 — seventy-seven
• 94 — ninety-four

Hundreds

We use one hundred for 100.

• 100 — one hundred
• 101 — one hundred and one
• 125 — one hundred and twenty-five

In British English, and is commonly used between the hundreds and the remaining number. In American English, it is also possible to say the number without and.

Common Mistake: Do not confuse forty with fourty. The correct spelling is forty.

5. Saying Prices and Phone Numbers

Numbers are very useful when talking about money and phone numbers. Let's learn some common ways to say them in English.

Saying Prices

We usually say the currency with the amount.

• $5 — five dollars
• $10 — ten dollars
• £20 — twenty pounds
• €15 — fifteen euros
• ₹500 — five hundred rupees

For amounts with decimals, we can say the currency after the number.

• $5.50 — five dollars and fifty cents
• £12.75 — twelve pounds and seventy-five pence
• ₹250.50 — two hundred and fifty rupees and fifty paise

Asking About Prices

• How much is it?
• How much does it cost?
• How much are these?

Example:

Customer: How much is this shirt?

Shop assistant: It's twenty dollars.

Saying Phone Numbers

When saying a phone number, we usually say each digit separately.

Example:

Phone number: 415-728-3096

You can say:

four one five, seven two eight, three zero nine six

In some varieties of English, zero may also be called oh when saying phone numbers.

Useful Expressions

• What's your phone number?
• My phone number is ________.
• Can I have your phone number?
• How much is this?
• It's ten dollars.

Practice Tip: Practise saying prices and phone numbers aloud. Say each digit clearly and slowly at first, then gradually increase your natural speaking speed.

6. Days of the Week

There are seven days in a week. In English, the names of the days always begin with a capital letter.

Day	Short Form	Example
Monday	Mon	I work on Monday.
Tuesday	Tue	The class is on Tuesday.
Wednesday	Wed	I have a meeting on Wednesday.
Thursday	Thu	We travel on Thursday.
Friday	Fri	She works on Friday.
Saturday	Sat	I relax on Saturday.
Sunday	Sun	We visit our family on Sunday.

Using Days in Sentences

We commonly use on before a day of the week.

• I go to work on Monday.
• We have English class on Wednesday.
• They play football on Sunday.

Useful Questions

• What day is it today?
• What day is your class?
• What are you doing on Saturday?

Remember: Days of the week begin with a capital letter: Monday, not monday.

7. Months of the Year

There are twelve months in a year. Like the days of the week, the names of the months always begin with a capital letter.

Month	Short Form	Example
January	Jan	My birthday is in January.
February	Feb	The course starts in February.
March	Mar	We travel in March.
April	Apr	The weather is warm in April.
May	May	School ends in May.
June	Jun	Summer begins in June.
July	Jul	We have a holiday in July.
August	Aug	The new term starts in August.
September	Sep	My course begins in September.
October	Oct	The festival is in October.
November	Nov	It gets colder in November.
December	Dec	The year ends in December.

Using Months in Sentences

We commonly use in before a month when talking about something that happens during that month.

• My birthday is in May.
• The school year starts in September.
• We are going on holiday in December.

Useful Questions

• What month is it?
• When is your birthday?
• What month does the course start?

Remember: Month names begin with a capital letter: January, February, March, and so on.

8. Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are used to show the position or order of something. We also use them when saying dates.

Number	Ordinal	Example
1	first	the first day
2	second	the second lesson
3	third	the third floor
4	fourth	the fourth question
5	fifth	the fifth student
6	sixth	the sixth page
7	seventh	the seventh day
8	eighth	the eighth lesson
9	ninth	the ninth floor
10	tenth	the tenth question

Common Ordinal Numbers

• 11th — eleventh
• 12th — twelfth
• 13th — thirteenth
• 20th — twentieth
• 21st — twenty-first
• 30th — thirtieth
• 31st — thirty-first

Cardinal vs. Ordinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers tell us how many. Ordinal numbers tell us which position or order.

• three books → How many?
• the third book → Which one?
• five students → How many?
• the fifth student → Which one?

Remember: The first three ordinal numbers are irregular: first, second, and third. Pay special attention to their spelling and pronunciation.

9. How to Say Dates

Dates are used every day when talking about birthdays, appointments, holidays, meetings, travel, and important events.

Writing Dates

There are different date formats in English. The two most common formats are:

• British English: day, month, year
• American English: month, day, year

Date	British English	American English
5 March 2026	5 March 2026	March 5, 2026
12 July 2026	12 July 2026	July 12, 2026

Saying Dates

When we say dates aloud, we normally use ordinal numbers.

• 1 January → the first of January
• 5 March → the fifth of March
• 12 July → the twelfth of July
• 21 September → the twenty-first of September

In American English, it is also common to say the month first.

• March 5 → March fifth
• July 12 → July twelfth
• September 21 → September twenty-first

Asking About Dates

• What's the date today?
• What's today's date?
• When is your birthday?
• What date is the meeting?

Examples

Question: When is your birthday?

Answer: It's on the fifth of March.

Question: What's the date today?

Answer: It's the twelfth of July.

Important: Date formats can differ between countries. When writing an important date for an international audience, spelling out the month can help avoid confusion.

10. Telling the Time

We use time expressions every day to talk about work, school, appointments, travel, meals, and daily activities.

Asking the Time

Here are some common ways to ask for the time:

• What time is it?
• What's the time?
• Do you have the time?

Using Hours and Minutes

For many times, you can simply say the hour and the minutes.

• 3:00 — three o'clock
• 3:10 — three ten
• 3:15 — three fifteen
• 3:30 — three thirty
• 3:45 — three forty-five
• 3:50 — three fifty

O'clock

We use o'clock when there are no minutes.

• It's one o'clock.
• It's six o'clock.
• The meeting is at ten o'clock.

A.M. and P.M.

We can use a.m. and p.m. to make the time of day clear.

• 8:00 a.m. — eight in the morning
• 2:00 p.m. — two in the afternoon
• 7:00 p.m. — seven in the evening
• 11:00 p.m. — eleven at night

Common Time Expressions

Time	Expression
3:15	quarter past three
3:30	half past three
3:45	quarter to four
3:05	five past three
3:55	five to four

At, On, and In with Time

Use at for a specific time.

• The class starts at 9:00 a.m.
• I wake up at seven o'clock.

Use on with days and dates.

• The meeting is on Monday.
• My appointment is on 5 March.

Use in with months, years, and longer periods.

• She was born in May.
• He started school in 2020.

Practice Tip: Look at a clock and say the time aloud several times a day. Try both the digital form and expressions such as quarter past, half past, and quarter to.

11. Useful Expressions

Here are some common expressions you can use when talking about numbers, dates, and time in everyday English.

Expression	Example
How much is it?	How much is it? — It's ten dollars.
What's your phone number?	What's your phone number? — It's 415-728-3096.
What day is it?	What day is it? — It's Monday.
What's the date?	What's the date? — It's 5 March.
When is your birthday?	It's on 12 July.
What time is it?	It's three o'clock.
What time does it start?	It starts at 9:00 a.m.
What time does it finish?	It finishes at 5:00 p.m.

Everyday Examples

At a shop:

“How much is this?”

“It's twenty-five dollars.”

Making an appointment:

“What time is the appointment?”

“It's at two thirty.”

Talking about a birthday:

“When is your birthday?”

“It's on 15 August.”

Talking about a schedule:

“What day is the class?”

“It's on Thursday.”

Practice Tip: Try using these expressions in your daily life. Ask yourself the time, say today's date, or practise saying a price aloud in English.

12. Common Mistakes

Numbers, dates, and time can be confusing at first. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for.

1. Forty, Not Fourty

The correct spelling is forty, not fourty.

• Correct: forty
• Incorrect: fourty

2. Thirteen vs. Thirty

Be careful with numbers such as thirteen and thirty. They look similar but have different pronunciations and meanings.

• 13 — thirteen
• 30 — thirty

3. Don't Confuse Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

Use cardinal numbers for quantities and ordinal numbers for position or dates.

• five students — quantity
• the fifth student — position
• 5 March — date

4. Using the Wrong Preposition

Remember these basic patterns:

• at + specific time → at 8:00
• on + day/date → on Monday, on 5 March
• in + month/year → in May, in 2026

5. Confusing Date Formats

Different countries use different date formats. For example, 05/03/2026 can be understood differently depending on the country.

For international communication, writing the month as a word can make the date clearer, such as 5 March 2026.

6. Forgetting the Capital Letters

Days and months begin with capital letters.

• Correct: Monday, January
• Incorrect: monday, january

7. Saying Phone Numbers Too Quickly

When giving a phone number, say each digit clearly. If the other person does not understand, repeat the number more slowly.

8. Confusing Twelve-Hour and Twenty-Four-Hour Time

Both systems are used in English-speaking contexts. When using the twelve-hour system, a.m. and p.m. help make the time clear.

• 8:00 a.m. — morning
• 8:00 p.m. — evening

Remember: Making mistakes is a normal part of learning. Focus on understanding the pattern, then practise until it becomes natural.

13. Practice Exercises

Now practise the numbers, dates, and time expressions from this lesson. Try to complete the exercises before checking the answers.

Exercise 1 — Write the Numbers in Words

Write each number in English.

1. 7 → ____________________
2. 14 → ____________________
3. 25 → ____________________
4. 40 → ____________________
5. 68 → ____________________
6. 100 → ____________________

Exercise 2 — Write the Numbers in Digits

Write each number using digits.

1. twelve → ____________________
2. nineteen → ____________________
3. thirty-five → ____________________
4. fifty → ____________________
5. seventy-two → ____________________
6. one hundred → ____________________

Exercise 3 — Complete the Sentences

Choose the correct word.

1. My birthday is ________ May. (in / on / at)
2. The meeting is ________ Monday. (in / on / at)
3. The class starts ________ 9:00 a.m. (in / on / at)
4. There are ________ students in the class. (twenty / twentieth)
5. She lives on the ________ floor. (five / fifth)

Exercise 4 — Days and Months

Complete each sentence with a suitable day or month.

1. The day after Monday is ____________________.
2. The day before Friday is ____________________.
3. The month after March is ____________________.
4. The month before December is ____________________.

Exercise 5 — Say the Time

Write each time in words.

1. 2:00 → ____________________
2. 4:15 → ____________________
3. 6:30 → ____________________
4. 8:45 → ____________________
5. 10:05 → ____________________

Exercise 6 — Choose the Correct Expression

Choose the best answer for each situation.

1. You want to ask the time. — What time is it? / What date is it?
2. You want to ask the price. — How much is it? / What day is it?
3. You want to ask someone's birthday. — When is your birthday? / What time is your birthday?
4. You want to ask someone's phone number. — What's your phone number? / What's your date?

Exercise 7 — Speaking Practice

Say the following aloud:

• the numbers 1 to 20
• the tens from 20 to 100
• three phone numbers
• three different prices
• the seven days of the week
• the twelve months of the year
• five different dates
• five different times

Practice Tip: Don't only write the answers. Say them aloud. Speaking numbers, dates, and time regularly will help you become faster and more confident.

14. Answers

Check your answers after completing the exercises.

Exercise 1 — Write the Numbers in Words

1. 7 → seven
2. 14 → fourteen
3. 25 → twenty-five
4. 40 → forty
5. 68 → sixty-eight
6. 100 → one hundred

Exercise 2 — Write the Numbers in Digits

1. twelve → 12
2. nineteen → 19
3. thirty-five → 35
4. fifty → 50
5. seventy-two → 72
6. one hundred → 100

Exercise 3 — Complete the Sentences

1. My birthday is in May.
2. The meeting is on Monday.
3. The class starts at 9:00 a.m.
4. There are twenty students in the class.
5. She lives on the fifth floor.

Exercise 4 — Days and Months

1. The day after Monday is Tuesday.
2. The day before Friday is Thursday.
3. The month after March is April.
4. The month before December is November.

Exercise 5 — Say the Time

1. 2:00 → two o'clock
2. 4:15 → four fifteen / a quarter past four
3. 6:30 → six thirty / half past six
4. 8:45 → eight forty-five / a quarter to nine
5. 10:05 → ten oh five / five past ten

Exercise 6 — Choose the Correct Expression

1. What time is it?
2. How much is it?
3. When is your birthday?
4. What's your phone number?

Exercise 7 — Speaking Practice

There are no single correct answers for this exercise. The goal is to practise saying numbers, phone numbers, prices, days, months, dates, and times clearly and confidently.

Self-Check: If you made mistakes, review the relevant section of this lesson and try the exercise again.

15. Quick Review

Before moving to the next lesson, review the most important points from this lesson.

Numbers

• Learn numbers from 1 to 100.
• Pay attention to similar numbers such as thirteen and thirty.
• Remember the correct spelling forty, not fourty.
• Use hyphens in numbers such as twenty-five and sixty-eight.

Prices and Phone Numbers

• Say prices clearly and include the currency when necessary.
• Say phone numbers digit by digit when appropriate.
• Speak slowly and clearly if the other person needs you to repeat the number.

Days and Months

• There are seven days in a week.
• There are twelve months in a year.
• Days and months always begin with a capital letter in English.

Dates

• Use ordinal numbers when saying the day of a date.
• Use on with a specific day or date.
• Different countries may use different date formats.
• Writing the month as a word can make an international date clearer.

Time

• Use at with a specific time.
• English commonly uses both twelve-hour and twenty-four-hour time systems.
• In the twelve-hour system, a.m. and p.m. help show the time of day.
• Practise saying times aloud to improve your speaking fluency.

Quick Check: Can you say a phone number, today's date, your birthday, and the current time in English without looking at your notes?

16. What You Should Remember

Numbers, dates, and time are important parts of everyday English. You will use them when talking about your age, birthday, appointments, prices, phone numbers, travel, work, and daily activities.

• Learn numbers and practise saying them clearly.
• Remember the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers.
• Use in with months and years.
• Use on with days and dates.
• Use at with specific times.
• Remember that date formats can vary between countries.
• Say phone numbers digit by digit when appropriate.
• Practise saying dates and times aloud.
• Do not worry about making mistakes. Regular practice will make these expressions more natural.

Key Idea: The goal is not only to recognize numbers, dates, and time. You should be able to understand and use them naturally in real-life situations.

17. Next Lesson — Subject Pronouns

In the next lesson, you will learn about Subject Pronouns and how to use them correctly in English sentences.

You will learn:

• I, you, he, she, it, we, and they
• How subject pronouns replace nouns
• How to use subject pronouns in simple sentences
• Common mistakes with subject pronouns
• Practice exercises to build confidence

Next Step: Continue with the next A1 Beginner lesson and build your English step by step.