Date and Time in English
Understanding how to talk about date and time in English is essential for everyday conversations, scheduling meetings, and making plans. Let's break it down step by step!
How to Say the Date
In English, dates can be written and spoken in different ways depending on the format used in different regions.
Writing the Date
There are two common formats:
🇺🇸 American English (MM-DD-YYYY): March 4, 2025
🇬🇧 British English (DD-MM-YYYY): 4 March 2025
Speaking the Date
🇺🇸 American English: "March fourth, twenty twenty-five"
🇬🇧 British English: "The fourth of March, twenty twenty-five"
Days of the Week
Here are the seven days of the week in English:
| Day | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Monday | Mon |
| Tuesday | Tue |
| Wednesday | Wed |
| Thursday | Thu |
| Friday | Fri |
| Saturday | Sat |
| Sunday | Sun |
💡 Tip: Days of the week always start with a capital letter in English!
Months of the Year
There are 12 months in English. Here’s how you say and abbreviate them:
| Month | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| January | Jan |
| February | Feb |
| March | Mar |
| April | Apr |
| May | May |
| June | Jun |
| July | Jul |
| August | Aug |
| September | Sep |
| October | Oct |
| November | Nov |
| December | Dec |
💡 Tip: In English, months always start with a capital letter.
How to Tell the Time
Asking for the Time
🔹 "What time is it?"
🔹 "Could you tell me the time, please?"
🔹 "Excuse me, what’s the time?"
Telling the Time
Here are different ways to say the time in English:
| Digital Clock | Standard Time | Alternative Way |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 | Seven o’clock | - |
| 7:15 | Seven fifteen | A quarter past seven |
| 7:30 | Seven thirty | Half past seven |
| 7:45 | Seven forty-five | A quarter to eight |
| 8:00 | Eight o’clock | - |
🔹 "AM" (morning) and "PM" (evening) are used in the 12-hour format: "5 PM" means 17:00.
🔹 The 24-hour format is common in timetables: "17:00" instead of "5 PM."
Prepositions of Time
🔹 ON → for days and dates: "on Monday," "on July 5th."
🔹 IN → for months, years, and long periods: "in December," "in 2024."
🔹 AT → for specific times: "at 3 PM," "at midnight."
💡 Quick Tip:
🔹 Use "at" for exact times → "at 10 AM"
🔹 Use "on" for specific days → "on Friday"
🔹 Use "in" for longer periods → "in July"
Practice Makes Perfect!
Try these exercises:
- Write today’s date in both British and American formats.
- Say the time right now using "quarter past," "half past," or "quarter to."
- Make a sentence with "on," "in," and "at" related to time.
Understanding dates and time in English will help you feel more confident in everyday conversations. Keep practicing with English tutors on Speekl, and soon it will feel natural! 🚀