Understanding Numbers and Dates
Recognising numbers, prices, times, and dates in spoken English Topic: Shopping, Appointments & TransportLearning Objectives
• Understand cardinal and ordinal numbers in spoken English.
• Recognise prices, times, dates, and statistics in listening texts.
• Write numbers and dates you hear correctly in figures or words.
| Listening Strategy: Catching Numbers and Dates |
| STEP 1 — Before you listen: Look at the task. What type of number do you need? (price, time, date, age?) |
| STEP 2 — Write digits immediately — do not try to write words (write 15, not fifteen). |
| STEP 3 — Listen for the unit after the number: pounds, euros, minutes, kilometres, percent. |
| STEP 4 — Watch for teens vs. tens (13 vs. 30 — the stress is different: thirTEEN vs. THIRty). |
| STEP 5 — After listening: Check that your numbers match the context (e.g. a price should not be huge). |
Key Vocabulary: Numbers in English
| Number Type | Examples in speech |
| Cardinal (1–100) | one, two, three … twenty, thirty, forty, fifty |
| Prices | 'That costs five pounds fifty.' / 'It is twelve euros.' |
| Times | 'Half past nine.' / 'Quarter to three.' / 'Eight fifteen.' |
| Dates (ordinal) | 'The third of April.' / 'See you on the fifteenth.' |
| Large numbers | 'Fifteen million.' / 'Three thousand two hundred pounds.' |
3A
At the Café
Speed:
Write the correct PRICE you hear.
Write the correct PRICE you hear
1
A coffee costs: £
2
A sandwich costs: £
3
The total is: £
4
The order is ready in minutes
3B
Making a Doctor's Appointment
Speed:
Exercise 1
Exercise 1. Listen and circle the correct answer.
1
The patient's date of birth is ___.
2
The appointment is on ___.
3
The appointment time is ___.
4
The appointment is ___.
Useful language
| Dates: | the first / second / third / fourth … of January, February, March … |
| Times: | quarter past, half past, quarter to, o'clock … |
| Clinic names: | City Health, Green Park, Sunshine, Riverside … |
Exercise 2
Exercise 2. Work in pairs. Student A is the receptionist; Student B is the patient. Complete the dialogue with your own information, then practise it aloud. Swap roles and try again with different information.
| RECEPTIONIST: | Good (morning / afternoon), Clinic. How can I help you? |
| PATIENT: | Hello. I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. , please. |
| RECEPTIONIST: | Of course. What is your date of birth? |
| PATIENT: | The of , . |
| RECEPTIONIST: | Dr. has an opening on the of at . |
| PATIENT: | Yes, that's perfect. |
| RECEPTIONIST: | Great. The appointment is minutes long. Please arrive minutes early. |
| PATIENT: | Thank you. Goodbye. |
| RECEPTIONIST: | Goodbye. |
3C
Transport Information Line
Speed:
Complete the travel notes. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A NUMBER.
Complete the travel notes. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A
| AIRPORT TRAVEL OPTIONS |
| Option 1: Airport Express Train Morning departures: 7:05 / / 8:10 Journey time: minutes Single fare: (3) £ |
| Option 2: Bus number Fare: £ Journey time: approx. hour(s) and 15 min RECOMMENDATION for 9:45 flight: Take the train. |
3D
A News Report on Commuting
Speed:
Exercise 1
Exercise 1. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1
The average UK worker commutes for ___.
2
London commuters travel for an average of ___.
3
How many people were surveyed?
4
What percentage travel by car?
5
The average annual commuting cost is now ___.
Exercise 2
Exercise 2. Answer using numbers or short phrases.
1
What percentage of commuters walk or cycle?
2
By how much have commute times increased since 2015?
3
Name TWO problems commuters mentioned: and