Numbers, Dates, and Time: The Data of Your Exam

Whether you are listening to an announcement about a train delay in Compréhension Orale or asking about a price in Expression Orale Section A, numbers are the "hard data" of the French language. For many learners, numbers (especially between 70 and 99) are a major source of anxiety. In this guide, we will de-mystify the French numbering system and show you how to handle dates and time like a native.

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1. The Number Trap: 70, 80, 90

In most languages, counting is linear. In French, it becomes a math problem after 69. For the TEF/TCF, correctly identifying these numbers in a fast-paced audio recording is essential.

The Breakdown:

2. Telling Time (L'Heure)

French uses two systems: the 24-hour clock (Standard/Formal) and the 12-hour clock (Conversational).

The Formal System (24h):

Used for schedules, official announcements, and in the TEF/TCF listening sections.

• 15h30: "Quinze heures trente."
• 20h00: "Vingt heures."

The Conversational System (12h):

3. Mastering Dates (La Date)

In French, the order is always Day / Month / Year.

Formatting:

4. Prices, Phone Numbers, and Addresses

In the Expression Orale Section A, you will likely have to ask for these details.

Phone Numbers:

In France, phone numbers are spoken in groups of two: 06 12 34 56 78 becomes "Zero-six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit."

Prices:

5. Ordinal Numbers (Ranking)

Used for floor levels (l'étage), centuries, or steps in a process.

• 1er: Premier / Première
• : Deuxième

6. Common Numbers Traps in TEF/TCF

1. Mille vs. Million: Mille (1,000) is invariable (no 's'). Million (1,000,000) is a noun and takes an 's' in plural.
2. Cent: Taking an 's' only when it's at the end of the number (deux cents) but not when followed by another number (deux cent cinq).
3. Age: In French, you have years, you aren't them. “J'ai vingt-cinq ans.”

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7. How to Practice with PrepMyFrench

Numbers are all about speed of recognition.

Listening Practice:

Use our Listening Tests to practice "Dictée de nombres." We have specific questions designed to test your ability to distinguish between 14 (quatorze) and 40 (quarante), or 60 (soixante) and 70 (soixante-dix).

Speaking Practice:

Conclusion

Don't let numbers be your downfall. They are the easiest thing to "study" but require the most "practice" to master at speed. Start counting your steps in French, read car license plates aloud, and soon 99 (quatre-vingt-dix-neuf) will feel as natural as 10.

Next Topic: Ready to expand your everyday vocabulary? Read about Common Phrases for Everyday Conversations.

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