What are common mistakes with Les nombres 0-100?

The 70-99 system is the biggest challenge; forgetting 'et' in 21/31/41/51/61/71. 🇬🇧 English speakers: The vigesimal system (70=60+10, 80=4×20, 90=80+10) is completely foreign. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian numbers are regular. The French system above 69 is very confusing. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech numbers are regular. Same confusion with 70-99.

Les nombres 0-100: règles, exemples et exercices | French Grammar A1

Les nombres 0-100

A1 — Nombres et temps

Counting from 0 to 100: spelling, pronunciation, and patterns

Can count from 0 to 100 and understand French number patterns

Counting from 0 to 100: spelling, pronunciation, and patterns

Examples

J'ai soixante-quinze ans. — I am 75 years old.
Ça coûte quatre-vingts euros. — It costs 80 euros.
Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-sept élèves. — There are 97 students in the school.

Nombres et tempsA1

Les nombres 0-100

Counting from 0 to 100: spelling, pronunciation, and patterns

Learning Goal

Can count from 0 to 100 and understand French number patterns

Exam Skills:Compréhension oraleProduction orale

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

J'ai soixante-quinze ans.

I am 75 years old.

Ça coûte quatre-vingts euros.

It costs 80 euros.

Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-sept élèves.

There are 97 students in the school.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Les nombres français ont quelques particularités :

Nombre	Français	Nombre	Français
0	zéro	20	vingt
1	un	30	trente
2-16	deux...seize	40	quarante
17	dix-sept	50	cinquante
18	dix-huit	60	soixante
19	dix-neuf	70	soixante-dix

Les particularités :

70 = soixante-dix (60+10)
80 = quatre-vingts (4×20)
90 = quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10)
71 = soixante et onze, 72 = soixante-douze
81 = quatre-vingt-un (pas de 'et')
91 = quatre-vingt-onze

Et : 21 = vingt et un, 31 = trente et un... mais 81 = quatre-vingt-un (pas de 'et').

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

The 70-99 system is the biggest challenge; forgetting 'et' in 21/31/41/51/61/71. 🇬🇧 English speakers: The vigesimal system (70=60+10, 80=4×20, 90=80+10) is completely foreign.

Common Error Patterns

Wrong number form

70=soixante-dix, 80=quatre-vingts, 90=quatre-vingt-dix. Practice 70-99 especially.

J'ai soixante-quinze ans.

I am 75 years old.

75 = soixante-quinze (60+15). The vigesimal system for 70-79.

Ça coûte quatre-vingts euros.

It costs 80 euros.

80 = quatre-vingts (4×20). Note the -s on vingts (only for exactly 80).

Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-sept élèves.

There are 97 students in the school.

97 = quatre-vingt-dix-sept (80+17). The most complex French number formation.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is Les nombres 0-100 used?: Et : 21 = vingt et un, 31 = trente et un... mais 81 = quatre-vingt-un (pas de 'et').
What are common mistakes with Les nombres 0-100?: The 70-99 system is the biggest challenge; forgetting 'et' in 21/31/41/51/61/71. 🇬🇧 English speakers: The vigesimal system (70=60+10, 80=4×20, 90=80+10) is completely foreign. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian numbers are regular. The French system above 69 is very confusing. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech numbers are regular. Same confusion with 70-99.