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:

• 70 (Soixante-dix): Literally "Sixty-ten."
• 71 (Soixante et onze): "Sixty and eleven."
• 80 (Quatre-vingts): "Four-twenties" (4 x 20).
• 81 (Quatre-vingt-un): "Four-twenty-one."
• 90 (Quatre-vingt-dix): "Four-twenty-ten" (4 x 20 + 10).
• 99 (Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf): "Four-twenty-ten-nine."

Exam Tip: In Compréhension Orale, the audio might say "quatre-vingt-cinq dollars." If you don't know the math, you might write "4205" instead of "85." Practice these until they are instinctive.

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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):

Used in roleplays (Section A/B).

• 3:30 PM: "Trois heures et demie."
• 8:15 AM: "Huit heures et quart."
• 7:45 PM: "Huit heures moins le quart."

Key Terms:

• Midi: Noon (Never use "douze heures").
• Minuit: Midnight.
• Pile: On the dot (e.g., il est trois heures pile).

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3. Mastering Dates (La Date)

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

Formatting:

• Le 25 décembre 2025
• Le 1er mai (The "1st" is always ordinal: premier).
• Le 2 mai (All other days are cardinal: deux, trois, etc.).

The Months:

Note that months are NOT capitalized in French: janvier, février, mars, avril, mai, juin, juillet, août, septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre.

Exam Tip: When listening for dates, pay attention to "le premier." If you hear "le deux," it's the 2nd. If you hear "le premier," it's the 1st.

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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:

• 12,50€: "Douze euros cinquante."
• 1.500$: "Mille cinq cents dollars." (Note the use of the comma for decimals and a dot or space for thousands).

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5. Ordinal Numbers (Ranking)

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

• 1er: Premier / Première
• 2e: Deuxième
• 3e: Troisième
• (Add -ième to the cardinal number).

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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:

In our AI Simulator, try a scenario where you are booking a hotel or asking about a gym membership. The AI will give you specific times and prices. You need to acknowledge them correctly (e.g., “C'est entendu, le rendez-vous est à quatorze heures trente.”).

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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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