French Numbers, Dates and Time: The Tricky Details That Cost You Points

Target: 1,800+ words

Numbers in French are surprisingly complex. The famous "quatre-vingts" (80 = four twenties) is just the beginning. Dates, times, and large numbers all follow rules that differ significantly from English. On the TEF/TCF, a misheard number or a poorly formatted date can mean the wrong answer.

---

Part 1: Numbers 0-100 — The Foundation

Most learners know these, but the traps start at 70:

Part 2: Numbers 100-1,000,000

• 100: Cent — Takes an "s" when multiplied AND nothing follows: "Deux cents" but "Deux cent un".
• 1,000: Mille — Never takes an "s": "Deux mille" (not "deux milles").

Part 3: Ordinal Numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd...)

• 1st: Premier/Premiere (only one with a special form)
• 2nd: or (use "second" when there are only two)

Part 4: Dates in French

Day/Month/Year Format

• "Le 14 juillet 1789." (The 14th of July, 1789)
• "Nous sommes le 3 mars 2025."

Rules:

Part 5: Telling Time

• "Il est trois heures." (It's 3:00.)
• "Il est trois heures et quart." (3:15)
• "Il est trois heures et demie." (3:30)
• "Il est quatre heures moins le quart." (3:45)

24-Hour Clock (Used formally and in transport)

Part 6: Phone Numbers

French phone numbers are read in pairs:

• 06 12 34 56 78 becomes "Zero six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit."

Listening Trap: The pair "78" = "soixante-dix-huit" sounds very different from "68" = "soixante-huit." Listen for that extra "dix."

---

Part 7: Prices and Percentages

• "Neuf euros cinquante." (9.50 euros)
• "Vingt pour cent." (20%)
• "Un tiers" (1/3), "Un quart" (1/4), "La moitie" (1/2)

---

Conclusion

Numbers are the invisible backbone of listening and reading comprehension. A single misheard digit can lead to the wrong answer on a TEF Listening question about time, prices, or dates. Practice dictating numbers aloud, listen to French radio for real-world exposure, and remember: French counts in twenties after 60.