What are the Months of the Year in English?
Knowing the months is important for talking about dates and events. There are twelve months in a year.
- Always write months with a capital letter. For example, January, not january.
- We often use the preposition in before a month. For example, My birthday is in May.
🎓 Learn English with the Blended method
Small groups · 24/7 AI Tutor · Cambridge preparation
Plans from $39 $79 per month
How Do We Use Ordinal Numbers for Dates?
When we talk about dates, we use ordinal numbers, not cardinal numbers. Ordinal numbers tell us the order of things (first, second, third, etc.).
- The first three ordinal numbers are special: first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd).
- For most other numbers, we add -th. For example, fourth (4th), fifth (5th), sixth (6th).
- When writing dates, we use the number and then the ordinal ending: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th.
- We use the preposition on for specific dates. For example, The party is on the tenth of July.
How Can I Talk About the Future?
There are many ways to talk about the future in English. At A1 level, you will use simple time expressions to show when something will happen.
- Use tomorrow for the day after today. For example, I will go to the market tomorrow.
- Use this with parts of the day or days of the week. For example, this evening, this Wednesday.
- Use next with days, weeks, months, or years. For example, next Monday, next week, next month, next year.
- Use on with specific days. For example, on Friday.
- Use at the weekend or on the weekend (American English).
| 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. |
Examples
- My birthday is in December.
- The new semester starts in September.
- Today is the fifth of March.
- Her anniversary is on the twenty-first of June.
- I have an appointment tomorrow morning.
- We will visit my family next weekend.
- Are you busy this evening?
- The exam is on the tenth of April.
Practice
💬 Need personalized guidance?
As an Authorized Cambridge Preparation Centre, we can guide you to the right course and certification. Chat with our advisors today.
Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers
- Using ‘the’ with months: In Spanish, you might say ‘el enero’, but in English, we do not use ‘the’ before a month.
Wrong: My holiday is in the July.
Right: My holiday is in July. - Forgetting ‘on’ for dates and days: Always use on for specific dates or days of the week.
Wrong: The meeting is 15 May.
Right: The meeting is on 15 May.
Wrong: I will see you Friday.
Right: I will see you on Friday. - Confusing cardinal and ordinal numbers for dates: Remember to use ordinal numbers for dates.
Wrong: My birthday is the twenty March.
Right: My birthday is the twentieth of March.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say the date in English?
You can say the first of January or January the first. Both are correct. Always use ordinal numbers for the day.
Do I need to capitalize months in English?
Yes, always capitalize the names of months in English. For example, February, August.
What is the difference between ‘this week’ and ‘next week’?
This week means the current week you are in. Next week means the week that comes after the current one.
When do I use ‘in’ and ‘on’ with time?
Use in for months (in July) and years (in 2024). Use on for specific days (on Monday) and full dates (on the fifth of May).
0 Comments