Dates, ordinals and telling the time
Saying dates (May the fifth / the fifth of May), years (twenty twenty-six), and time (half past two, a quarter to five); US/GB date order
I can say dates, years and clock times and avoid the US/GB numeric-date trap.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The wedding is on the fifth of June, twenty twenty-six - save the date!
The wedding is on the fifth of June, twenty twenty-six - save the date!
Let's meet at a quarter past nine; the museum opens at half past.
Let's meet at a quarter past nine; the museum opens at half past.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Three little systems:
| What | How |
|---|---|
| dates | written May 5, spoken May the fifth / the fifth of May |
| years | 1999 = nineteen ninety-nine; 2026 = twenty twenty-six |
| time | 2:30 = half past two; 4:45 = a quarter to five; 4:15 = a quarter past four |
US writes month first (5/12 = May 12), GB day first (5/12 = 5 December) - in international writing spell the month out. Ordinals: first, second, third, then -th (fifth, twelfth, twentieth).
- half past two ≠ German/Slavic 'half three': it's 2:30 looking back
- US/GB numeric dates misread: spell the month
- *the five of May → the fifth of May
Common Error Patterns
US/GB numeric dates confused
Spell the month in international writing
half past miscalculated
half past two = 2:30
The wedding is on the fifth of June, twenty twenty-six - save the date!
The wedding is on the fifth of June, twenty twenty-six - save the date!
the fifth of June + paired-year reading.
Let's meet at a quarter past nine; the museum opens at half past.
Let's meet at a quarter past nine; the museum opens at half past.
quarter past + bare half past in context.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises