Practice English numbers and dates with this beginner-friendly guide. Includes real examples, a worksheet, and a TPT lesson.
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Why Is It Important to Learn Numbers and Dates in English First?
Because numbers and dates are everywhere — in birthdays, addresses, appointments, and prices. Learning how to say and understand them helps you communicate in real-life situations right from the beginning.
Learning how to say numbers and dates in English is one of the first steps toward real communication. Whether you’re writing your birthday, saying the time, or filling out a form, you need to know how to say numbers and use the correct date format. In this guide, we’ll break it down in a simple, clear way—just for beginners.
Table of Contents
1. Why Numbers and Dates Matter
2. How to Say Numbers in English
3. How to Say the Date in English
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
5. Free Worksheet Sample
6. Full Lesson on TPT
7. Practice More with Friends
8. Final Thoughts
Why Do English Numbers and Dates Matter for Beginners?
Because they’re everywhere—from filling out forms to scheduling appointments. If you can say numbers and dates clearly, people will understand you faster.
How to Say Numbers in English
Start with 1–100. Say each number clearly. Practice these:
- One, two, three…
- Ten, twenty, thirty…
- One hundred
Also practice years: 1985 = nineteen eighty-five. 2025 = twenty twenty-five.
How to Say the Date in English
In the U.S., we say: Month + Day + Year. Example: May 5, 2025.
In the U.K. and other English-speaking countries, people often say: Day + Month + Year. Example: 5 May 2025.
| Type | Example | Spoken Form |
|---|---|---|
| Date (MM/DD/YYYY) | 07/04/2023 | July fourth, twenty twenty-three |
| Large Number | 1,234 | One thousand two hundred thirty-four |
| Ordinal Number | 21st | Twenty-first |
| Time | 8:30 AM | Eight thirty in the morning |
| Date (written) | December 25, 2025 | December twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-five |
| Phone Number | (555) 123-4567 | Five five five, one two three, four five six seven |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Saying the number before the month in U.S. English.
❌ Using ordinal numbers incorrectly (say ‘May fifth’, not ‘May five’).
❌ Forgetting how to say large years (2000 = two thousand, not twenty hundred).
Free Worksheet Sample
Want to test yourself? Download a free sample worksheet with basic number and date practice.
Get the Full Printable Lesson
Ready to go further? My complete printable lesson is available in my TPT store:
🛒English Numbers And Dates Complete Packet For ESL Beginners
Practice More with a Study Buddy
Practice with someone! Join the Study Buddy Project and meet other English learners like you.
👉 https://englishteacherkbob.com/study-buddy-project
Final Thoughts
Numbers and dates seem small—but they’re a big part of everyday English. Practice every day and don’t worry about mistakes. You’re learning!
🧠 Practice more with these tools:
This is such a helpful and well-organized guide for ESL beginners! Learning how to say numbers and dates correctly is essential for real-world communication, and this post breaks it down in a way that’s easy to follow and practice. I especially like the clear examples, spoken forms, and the reminders about common mistakes—those are super useful for avoiding confusion. The inclusion of a free worksheet and a link to the full lesson on TPT is a great bonus for anyone who wants to practice more. I also appreciate the explanation of date formats in different English-speaking countries—small detail, but very important! This is a great resource for both self-learners and teachers working with beginners. Thanks for making English more approachable and practical. Can’t wait to explore more of your lessons!
Hi Andrejs, thanks for your comments. I hope you return soon.
KBob