A1 · Beginner Chapter 6

Numbers, Time, and the Calendar

3 Total Rules
32 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the rhythm of French daily life by mastering numbers, clocks, and the calendar.

  • Count confidently from 0 to 100 using French logic.
  • Tell the time using the 24-hour clock and common expressions.
  • Navigate the calendar with months and specific date formats.
Count your way to fluency, one hour at a time.

What You'll Learn

Hey there! Ready to dive into some truly essential and super practical French? Don't sweat it, this chapter is going to be smooth and easy, much simpler than you might imagine! We’ll build a super strong foundation together. First up, we’re tackling French numbers from zero to one hundred. Yes, I know, those famous 70s, 80s, and 90s have their little quirks and require a bit of basic math – but don’t worry, we’ll make it so clear you’ll never forget. You'll learn how to write them correctly and pronounce them perfectly. Imagine being able to ask for the price of a delicious baguette or confidently share your age! Next, we'll move on to telling time just like the French do. You’ll learn to use il est properly, always remember that heure is feminine, and get comfortable with the 24-hour clock, which is super common in everyday French life. You'll be punctual for coffee dates or catching trains! Finally, we'll conquer the months! You'll learn their names, how they're always written in lowercase and are masculine, and when to use en (for in a specific month) or le (for particular calendar dates). Soon you'll be able to say exactly when you plan to visit Paris! These three topics are the backbone of daily conversations. You'll see how mastering numbers greatly helps with telling time, and how both are crucial for discussing dates. They're like puzzle pieces that fit together to create a beautiful picture. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand these concepts; you'll confidently use French numbers, time, and calendar terms in real conversations. Ready? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Say your age and price items up to 100 euros.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Ask for and tell the time accurately using 'il est'.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Write your birth date or plan a meeting using 'le' and 'en'.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to an essential chapter in your A1 French grammar journey! This guide will unlock the secrets to mastering French numbers, telling time, and navigating the calendar. These aren't just isolated topics; they are the bedrock of daily communication and absolutely vital for anyone learning French. Whether you're planning a trip to Paris, ordering food, or simply chatting with a French speaker, you'll find yourself reaching for these concepts constantly. Don't be intimidated; we're going to break down each element into easily digestible parts, making complex ideas simple and memorable. By the end of this chapter, you’ll not only understand these core elements but also confidently use them in real-world scenarios. This is practical French at its best, ensuring you build a solid foundation for more advanced learning.
This module is designed to be smooth and stress-free, focusing on the most practical aspects for A1 French learners. We’ll tackle everything from counting to 100, including those famously quirky 70s, 80s, and 90s, to confidently asking and giving the time, and finally, discussing dates and months like a native. Mastering these topics will significantly boost your confidence and open up a world of conversational possibilities. Get ready to transform your French communication skills with these fundamental building blocks!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on three interconnected pillars of everyday French: numbers, time, and the calendar. Let's break them down.
First, French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres) are your starting point. You'll learn the basic digits like un (one), deux (two), trois (three), and then progress to the tens: dix (ten), vingt (twenty), trente (thirty), quarante (forty), cinquante (fifty), soixante (sixty). The real fun begins with 70, 80, and 90, which are formed with a bit of arithmetic: soixante-dix (sixty-ten) for 70, quatre-vingts (four-twenties) for 80, and quatre-vingt-dix (four-twenty-ten) for 90. Remember, vingt only takes an 's' when it stands alone as 80 or is the last part of a larger number (e.g., quatre-vingts euros – eighty euros, but quatre-vingt-cinq – eighty-five).
Next up is Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?). The key phrase here is Il est (It is), always followed by the hour. For example, Il est trois heures (It is three o'clock). Remember that heure (hour) is always feminine! You'll also learn common phrases like et demie (half past), et quart (quarter past), and moins le quart (quarter to). French speakers commonly use the 24-hour clock, so 3 PM is quinze heures (fifteen hours), not trois heures de l'après-midi.
Finally, we cover French Months: Names and Prepositions. All months in French are masculine and are always written in lowercase: janvier (January), février (February), mars (March), etc. When talking about something happening *in* a specific month, you'll use the preposition en, as in en avril (in April). However, for a specific date, you'll use le (the), followed by the number and the month: le 14 juillet (July 14th). These simple rules are crucial for discussing plans and events accurately.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "J'ai vingt ans." (I am twenty years old.)
✓ Correct: "J'ai vingt ans." (I am twenty years old.)
*Explanation:* This isn't exactly wrong but highlights a common omission. When stating age, the word ans (years) is crucial and almost never omitted in French, unlike in English where "I am twenty" is common.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "C'est cinq heures." (It is five o'clock.)
✓ Correct: "Il est cinq heures." (It is five o'clock.)
*Explanation:* In French, you must always use the impersonal expression il est (it is) when telling time, not c'est (it is/that is). This is a fixed rule for time expressions.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Mon anniversaire est en Septembre." (My birthday is in September.)
✓ Correct: "Mon anniversaire est en septembre." (My birthday is in September.)
*Explanation:* All French months are considered common nouns and are therefore always written in lowercase, unlike in English.

Real Conversations

A

A

Quel âge as-tu ? (How old are you?)
B

B

J'ai vingt-cinq ans. (I am twenty-five years old.)
A

A

Quelle heure est-il ? (What time is it?)
B

B

Il est quinze heures trente. (It is 3:30 PM / fifteen thirty.)
A

A

Quand est ton rendez-vous ? (When is your appointment?)
B

B

Mon rendez-vous est le dix mai. (My appointment is on May tenth.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Why are French numbers like 70, 80, and 90 so different from other tens?

French numbers for 70, 80, and 90 are based on a vigesimal (base-20) system, a remnant from older linguistic influences. Soixante-dix (sixty-ten), quatre-vingts (four-twenties), and quatre-vingt-dix (four-twenty-ten) are common in standard French, though some French-speaking regions use simpler terms like septante (seventy) and octante (eighty).

Q

Do French speakers really use the 24-hour clock for everything?

Yes, the 24-hour clock (l'heure officielle) is very common and widely used in everyday French life, especially in formal contexts like train schedules, store hours, and appointments. While you might hear the 12-hour clock with "du matin" (in the morning) or "de l'après-midi" (in the afternoon) in casual conversation, mastering the 24-hour system is essential for clarity.

Q

Are French months always lowercase?

Absolutely! Unlike English, all French months (janvier, février, mars, etc.) are common nouns and are therefore always written in lowercase. Capitalizing them is a common mistake for English speakers.

Q

When should I use 'en' versus 'le' when talking about dates in French?

Use en when you're referring to something happening *in* a specific month, without a specific day (e.g., en juillet – in July). Use le when you're referring to a specific date (day and month) (e.g., le 14 juillet – on July 14th).

Cultural Context

In France, precision with time and dates is highly valued. The widespread use of the 24-hour clock (l'heure officielle) reflects this, appearing on everything from train tickets to TV schedules. While regional variations for 70 and 90 exist (like septante and nonante in Belgium and Switzerland), standard French uses the compound forms. Dates are typically written day-month-year (JJ/MM/AAAA), a common European format. Mastering these elements isn't just about grammar; it's about integrating into the daily rhythm of French life.

Key Examples (6)

1

J'ai deux billets pour le concert.

I have two tickets for the concert.

French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres)
2

Ça coûte quatre-vingt-dix euros ?

Does it cost ninety euros?

French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres)
3

Il est huit heures du matin.

It is eight o'clock in the morning.

Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)
4

Le train part à seize heures quarante-cinq.

The train leaves at 4:45 PM.

Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)
5

Il neige souvent `en janvier`.

It often snows in January.

French Months: Names and Prepositions (en, le)
6

La fête nationale est `le` 14 `juillet`.

The national holiday is July 14th.

French Months: Names and Prepositions (en, le)

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

Learn in blocks

Learn 0-16, then 17-69, then 70-99.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres)
💡

Use 'h'

In writing, use 'h' instead of ':' to save space and look native.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)
💡

Capitalization

Months are not capitalized in French unless they start a sentence.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Months: Names and Prepositions (en, le)

Key Vocabulary (7)

zéro zero cent one hundred l'heure the hour/time midi noon janvier January aujourd'hui today maintenant now

Real-World Preview

train

Buying a Train Ticket

utensils

Planning a Birthday Dinner

Review Summary

  • 60 + 10-19 (70s) | 4 * 20 (80) | 4 * 20 + 10-19 (90s)
  • Il est + [Number] + heure(s) + [Minutes]
  • le + [Number] + [Month] | en + [Month]

Common Mistakes

In English, we can drop 'o'clock', but in French, you must always say 'heures' to indicate you are talking about time.

Wrong: Il est huit. (It is eight.)
Correct: Il est huit heures. (It is eight o'clock.)

Months of the year are not capitalized in French unless they start a sentence.

Wrong: Je suis né en Janvier. (I was born in January.)
Correct: Je suis né en janvier. (I was born in january.)

Students often mix up the 70s (starting with soixante) and 80s (starting with quatre-vingt).

Wrong: soixante-onze (71) for 81
Correct: quatre-vingt-un (81)

Next Steps

You've just conquered one of the most practical chapters in French! Being able to handle numbers and time makes you a much more independent traveler and speaker. Keep practicing those 'math' numbers!

Change your phone's clock to the 24-hour format and read the time aloud in French every time you check it.

Write down the birthdays of 5 friends in the French format (le + number + month).

Continue to: Special Uses of Articles and 'De'

Quick Practice (10)

Select the 24h equivalent.

2:00 PM

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 14h
12+2=14.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Fill in the correct preposition.

Je pars ___ juillet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en
Use 'en' for months.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Months: Names and Prepositions (en, le)

Fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il est 12h et demi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est midi et demie
Heure is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Fill in the blank.

Il est ___ heure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: une
1:00 is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Fill in the blank.

Il est midi ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pile
Exactly noon.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Fill in the blank.

J'ai ___ (21) ans.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vingt-et-un
21 requires 'et'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est deux heures.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est deux heures
Use Il est.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Choose the correct form.

Il est trois ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: heures
Plural after 1.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time in French (Quelle heure est-il?)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est en 10 mai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le 10 mai.
Use 'le' for dates.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Months: Names and Prepositions (en, le)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

J'ai quatre-vingt-s ans.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai quatre-vingts ans.
80 needs an 's' alone.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Numbers 0-100 (Les nombres)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

It's a historical base-20 system from Celtic influence.
Yes, always use hyphens for numbers between 17 and 99.
Because 'une' is the feminine of 'un'.
No, 'Il est' is required for time.
No, months are lowercase in French unless they start a sentence.
In French, we use the ordinal 'premier' for the first day of the month.
Previous Chapter
Talking About More Than One
Next Chapter
Special Uses of Articles and 'De'
Back to Roadmap