Numbers play a crucial role in our daily lives, from reading phone numbers to dealing with decimals and fractions. However, many English learners struggle with reading large numbers, dates, and addresses correctly. This guide will help you master big numbers, decimals, ordinal numbers, fractions, dates, addresses, and phone numbers with ease!
1. Understanding Confusing Numbers
Some numbers can sound similar but are pronounced differently due to stress placement:
- 13 vs. 30 → thir-TEEN vs. THIR-ty
- 14 vs. 40 → four-TEEN vs. FOR-ty
- 15 vs. 50 → fif-TEEN vs. FIF-ty
- 16 vs. 60 → six-TEEN vs. SIX-ty
- 19 vs. 90 → nine-TEEN vs. NINE-ty
💡 Tip: If the number ends in “teen,” the stress is on the second syllable. If it ends in “ty,” the stress is on the first syllable.
2. Reading Big Numbers
Reading large numbers can be overwhelming, but breaking them into sections makes it easier.
For example, this number: 12,150,024,792
- Break it down: 12 billion, 150 million, 24 thousand, 792
- Always read numbers in groups of three, separated by commas.
✅ Practice:
- 1,234,567,890 → One billion, two hundred thirty-four million, five hundred sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred ninety.
- 98,765,432,100 → Ninety-eight billion, seven hundred sixty-five million, four hundred thirty-two thousand, one hundred.
🔹 Shortcuts for Large Numbers:
- 7,500,000 → 7.5 million ✅
- 4,200,000,000 → 4.2 billion ✅
- Avoid using decimals for thousands (e.g., 4.5 thousand ❌)
3. Reading Decimals
Decimals are read using “point” instead of “dot”:
- 16.75% → Sixteen point seventy-five percent.
- $16.75 → Sixteen dollars and seventy-five cents.
✅ Alternative ways to say prices:
- $4.99 → Four ninety-nine.
- $499 → Four hundred ninety-nine dollars.
Context Matters:
- “I bought a coffee for $4.99.” → It’s clear it means four dollars and ninety-nine cents.
- “I bought a new laptop for $499.” → It’s understood as four hundred ninety-nine dollars.
4. Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order (first, second, third, etc.):
Key Ordinals:
- 1st → First
- 2nd → Second
- 3rd → Third
- 4th → Fourth
- 10th → Tenth
- 11th → Eleventh
- 12th → Twelfth
- 21st, 22nd, 23rd → Keep the same pattern
💡 Ordinal numbers are often used for:
- Dates (e.g., January 1st, 2024)
- Sports rankings (He finished 2nd in the race.)
- Building floors (She lives on the 10th floor.)
✅ Examples:
- 20th → Twentieth
- 33rd → Thirty-third
5. Reading Fractions
Fractions often use ordinal numbers:
✅ Basic Fractions:
- 1/2 → One-half
- 1/3 → One-third
- 2/3 → Two-thirds
- 3/4 → Three-quarters
✅ Alternative ways:
- 1/5 → One out of five
- 1/10 → One in ten
6. Reading Dates
How to say years:
- 1990 → Nineteen ninety
- 2023 → Twenty twenty-three
- 2002 → Two thousand two
- 1805 → Eighteen oh five
✅ How to say full dates:
- December 12, 2023 → December twelfth, twenty twenty-three.
- July 4, 1776 → July fourth, seventeen seventy-six.
7. Reading Addresses
Addresses follow the same rules as years and dates:
- 1290 Main Street → Twelve ninety Main Street.
- 523 Elm Avenue → Five twenty-three Elm Avenue.
💡 Remember: Four-digit numbers are read as pairs (e.g., 1290 = twelve ninety, not one thousand two hundred ninety).
8. Reading Phone Numbers
Phone numbers are usually spoken digit by digit:
✅ Example: (825) 329-8123
- Eight two five, three two nine, eight one two three.
✅ If a number contains a “0”:
- 305-742-8080 → Three oh five, seven four two, eight oh eight oh.
💡 Country codes:
- +1 (USA & Canada): One, area code 808…
- +44 (UK): Forty-four, area code…
Practice Quiz 🎯
1️⃣ Read this number: 7,600,000 2️⃣ How do you say $6.50? 3️⃣ What’s the ordinal number for 12? 4️⃣ Say this date: March 3, 2000 5️⃣ Read this phone number: +81 903-4013-1730
✍️ Practice at home by saying your phone number, address, and birthday out loud!
Final Thoughts
Mastering numbers in English takes practice, but following these rules makes it much easier. Whether you’re reading big numbers, decimals, fractions, or dates, these tips will help you sound more natural in English conversations.
👍 Which type of number do you find the most difficult? Let us know in the comments!
