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Frequent learner mistakes involving numbers, dates and time.
Practice: build the sentences →Use cardinal numbers to express quantity and ordinal numbers to express position or sequence.
For example, three books expresses quantity, while the third book identifies position.
She has three books.
У неё три книги.
"Three" is a cardinal number expressing quantity.
This is the third book.
Это третья книга.
"Third" is an ordinal number expressing position.
He bought two cars.
Он купил две машины.
"Two" is cardinal, expressing quantity.
He bought the second car.
Он купил вторую машину.
"Second" is ordinal, expressing position.
There are five students.
Там пять студентов.
"Five" is cardinal, expressing quantity.
Hundred, thousand, million, billion, and similar units remain singular after an exact preceding number.
For example, three hundred people, five thousand dollars, and two million users.
Three hundred people attended.
Триста человек присутствовали.
"Hundred" remains singular after "three".
Five thousand dollars were raised.
Было собрано пять тысяч долларов.
"Thousand" remains singular after "five".
Two million users signed up.
Два миллиона пользователей зарегистрировались.
"Million" remains singular after "two".
She paid three hundred dollars.
Она заплатила триста долларов.
"Hundred" is singular after a specific number.
The company has five thousand employees.
В компании пять тысяч сотрудников.
"Thousand" remains singular.
Large number words take plural forms before of when the quantity is indefinite.
For example, hundreds of people, thousands of users, and millions of dollars.
Hundreds of people attended the event.
Сотни людей посетили мероприятие.
"Hundreds of" expresses an indefinite large number.
Thousands of users visited the website.
Тысячи пользователей посетили сайт.
"Thousands of" indicates an indefinite large quantity.
Millions of dollars were donated.
Были пожертвованы миллионы долларов.
"Millions of" expresses an indefinite large amount.
Hundreds of books were sold.
Были проданы сотни книг.
"Hundreds of" is used with a plural noun.
Thousands of species are endangered.
Тысячи видов находятся под угрозой исчезновения.
"Thousands of" with plural noun.
The correct spelling of 40 is forty, and related forms use the same spelling base.
For example, forty, forty-two, and fortieth.
The number is forty.
Число — сорок.
Correct spelling: "forty".
She has forty-two books.
У неё сорок две книги.
Correct: "forty-two".
He finished fortieth in the race.
Он финишировал сороковым в гонке.
Correct ordinal: "fortieth".
There are forty students.
Там сорок студентов.
Correct spelling: "forty".
The answer is forty.
Ответ — сорок.
Never "fourty".
Several common ordinal forms have irregular spellings that must be memorized.
The correct forms are fifth, eighth, ninth, and twelfth.
This is the fifth time.
Это пятый раз.
Correct spelling: "fifth".
She was the eighth contestant.
Она была восьмой участницей.
Correct spelling: "eighth".
He came in ninth place.
Он занял девятое место.
Correct spelling: "ninth".
This is the twelfth month.
Это двенадцатый месяц.
Correct spelling: "twelfth".
The fifth and eighth are often misspelled.
Пятый и восьмой часто пишут с ошибками.
"Fifth" and "eighth" have irregular spellings.
Ordinal forms of tens change the final y to ieth.
For example, twentieth, thirtieth, fortieth, and fiftieth.
This is the twentieth anniversary.
Это двадцатая годовщина.
"Twentieth" is formed by changing -y to -ieth.
She was the thirtieth applicant.
Она была тридцатой заявительницей.
"Thirtieth" from "thirty".
He finished in the fortieth position.
Он финишировал на сороковом месте.
"Fortieth" from "forty".
This is the fiftieth time.
Это пятидесятый раз.
"Fiftieth" from "fifty".
She was the ninetieth caller.
Она была девяностой позвонившей.
"Ninetieth" from "ninety".
Ordinal abbreviations use the correct final suffix according to the number, with special treatment for 11, 12, and 13.
For example, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, but 11th, 12th, and 13th.
21st is correct for twenty-first.
21st правильно для двадцать первого.
Use -st after numbers ending in 1.
22nd is correct for twenty-second.
22nd правильно для двадцать второго.
Use -nd after numbers ending in 2.
23rd is correct for twenty-third.
23rd правильно для двадцать третьего.
Use -rd after numbers ending in 3.
11th is correct for eleventh.
11th правильно для одиннадцатого.
Exceptions: 11th, 12th, 13th take -th.
12th is correct for twelfth.
12th правильно для двенадцатого.
"12th" takes -th despite ending in 2.
A number of means several and takes a plural verb, while the number of refers to the quantity and normally takes a singular verb.
For example, A number of people are waiting, but The number of people is increasing.
A number of people are waiting.
Несколько человек ждут.
"A number of" takes a plural verb "are".
The number of people is increasing.
Число людей растёт.
"The number of" takes a singular verb "is".
A number of students have complained.
Несколько студентов пожаловались.
"A number of" with plural verb.
The number of errors is small.
Число ошибок невелико.
"The number of" with singular verb.
A number of books were missing.
Несколько книг пропало.
"A number of" with plural verb "were".
Verb agreement depends on the grammatical noun phrase being referred to rather than mechanically matching the numerical expression.
For example, Two students are absent, but One student is absent.
Two students are absent.
Два студента отсутствуют.
Plural noun "students" with plural verb "are".
One student is absent.
Один студент отсутствует.
Singular noun "student" with singular verb "is".
Five books are on the table.
Пять книг на столе.
Plural noun with plural verb.
One book is on the table.
Одна книга на столе.
Singular noun with singular verb.
Ten cars were sold.
Было продано десять машин.
Plural noun with plural verb "were".
Zero normally takes plural countable nouns.
For example, zero mistakes, zero students, and zero dollars.
There are zero mistakes.
Ошибок ноль.
Plural countable noun "mistakes" after "zero".
Zero students passed.
Ни один студент не сдал.
Plural noun "students" after "zero".
She has zero dollars.
У неё ноль долларов.
Plural noun "dollars" after "zero".
There are zero cars in the lot.
На парковке ноль машин.
Plural countable noun after "zero".
Zero options are available.
Нет доступных вариантов.
Plural noun after "zero".
One normally takes a singular countable noun.
For example, one book, one student, and one mistake.
There is one book on the table.
На столе одна книга.
Singular countable noun "book" after "one".
One student is absent.
Один студент отсутствует.
Singular noun "student" after "one".
She made one mistake.
Она сделала одну ошибку.
Singular noun "mistake" after "one".
There is one car in the garage.
В гараже одна машина.
Singular noun after "one".
He has one sister.
У него одна сестра.
Singular noun "sister" after "one".
Few is used with plural countable nouns, while little is used with uncountable nouns.
For example, few people but little information.
Few people came.
Мало людей пришло.
"Few" with plural countable noun "people".
Little information was available.
Доступно мало информации.
"Little" with uncountable noun "information".
Few students passed.
Мало студентов сдало.
"Few" with plural countable noun "students".
Little time is left.
Осталось мало времени.
"Little" with uncountable noun "time".
There are few options.
Есть мало вариантов.
"Few" with plural countable noun "options".
Fewer is normally used with plural countable nouns, while less is normally used with uncountable nouns.
For example, fewer problems but less time.
There are fewer problems now.
Сейчас меньше проблем.
"Fewer" with plural countable noun "problems".
We have less time than before.
У нас меньше времени, чем раньше.
"Less" with uncountable noun "time".
Fewer students passed this year.
В этом году сдало меньше студентов.
"Fewer" with plural countable noun "students".
There is less water in the bottle.
В бутылке меньше воды.
"Less" with uncountable noun "water".
There are fewer cars on the road.
На дороге меньше машин.
"Fewer" with plural countable noun "cars".
A few indicates a small but real number, while few emphasizes that the number is small or insufficient.
For example, A few people came versus Few people came.
A few people came.
Пришло несколько человек.
"A few" means a small but real number.
Few people came.
Мало людей пришло.
"Few" emphasizes that the number is small.
A few students passed.
Несколько студентов сдало.
"A few" means some students passed.
Few students passed.
Мало студентов сдало.
"Few" suggests almost none passed.
I have a few questions.
У меня есть несколько вопросов.
"A few" indicates a small but real number.
A little indicates a small but real amount, while little emphasizes that the amount is very small or insufficient.
For example, We have a little time versus We have little time.
We have a little time left.
У нас осталось немного времени.
"A little" means a small but real amount.
We have little time left.
У нас осталось мало времени.
"Little" emphasizes that the amount is very small.
She has a little money saved.
У неё отложено немного денег.
"A little" means some useful money is available.
She has little money saved.
У неё отложено мало денег.
"Little" suggests almost not enough money.
There is a little hope.
Есть небольшая надежда.
"A little" gives a positive nuance.
British English commonly uses day-month-year order, while American English commonly uses month-day-year order.
For example, 15 August 2026 versus August 15, 2026.
15 August 2026
15 августа 2026
British English uses day-month-year order.
August 15, 2026
15 августа 2026
American English uses month-day-year order.
The meeting is on 5 May.
Встреча 5 мая.
British date order with day first.
The meeting is on May 5.
Встреча 5 мая.
American date order with month first.
She was born on 1 January 2020.
Она родилась 1 января 2020 года.
British date order.
Purely numeric dates can be interpreted differently across regional conventions.
For example, 04/05/2026 may represent 4 May or April 5.
04/05/2026 can mean 4 May or April 5.
04/05/2026 может означать 4 мая или 5 апреля.
Numeric dates are ambiguous internationally.
05/04/2026 can mean 5 April or May 4.
05/04/2026 может означать 5 апреля или 4 мая.
The order depends on the convention.
In British English, 04/05/2026 is 4 May.
В британском английском 04/05/2026 — это 4 мая.
British convention is day/month/year.
In American English, 04/05/2026 is April 5.
В американском английском 04/05/2026 — это 5 апреля.
American convention is month/day/year.
Always clarify the date convention.
Всегда уточняйте конвенцию даты.
Ambiguity can be avoided by writing the month.
On is normally used before a specific day or calendar date.
For example, The meeting is on 15 August and We arrived on Monday.
The meeting is on 15 August.
Встреча 15 августа.
"On" is used before a specific date.
We arrived on Monday.
Мы приехали в понедельник.
"On" is used before a day of the week.
She was born on 1 January 2020.
Она родилась 1 января 2020 года.
"On" precedes the specific date.
The event is on 3 May 2025.
Мероприятие 3 мая 2025 года.
"On" with a full date.
I will see you on Friday.
Я увижу тебя в пятницу.
"On" before a day.
In is normally used with months and years when referring to a period rather than a specific day.
For example, in August and in 2026.
She was born in August.
Она родилась в августе.
"In" is used with a month.
We met in 2026.
Мы встретились в 2026 году.
"In" is used with a year.
The project started in May.
Проект начался в мае.
"In" with a month alone.
He graduated in 2019.
Он окончил университет в 2019 году.
"In" with a year alone.
It happened in September 2021.
Это случилось в сентябре 2021 года.
"In" with a month and year.
Expressions containing this, last, next, or every normally do not require an additional preposition before the time expression.
For example, next Monday, last year, this morning, and every Friday.
I will see you next Monday.
Я увижу тебя в следующий понедельник.
No preposition with "next".
We met last Friday.
Мы встретились в прошлую пятницу.
"Last" takes no preposition.
This morning was cold.
Этим утром было холодно.
"This" is used without a preposition.
I go to the gym every Monday.
Я хожу в спортзал каждый понедельник.
"Every" is used without a preposition.
We will meet this Friday.
Мы встретимся в эту пятницу.
"This" with a day takes no preposition.
Century names are one number higher than the first two digits of most years within that century.
For example, 1901 begins the twentieth century and 2001 begins the twenty-first century.
1901 begins the twentieth century.
1901 год начинает двадцатый век.
Century number is one greater than the first two digits.
2001 begins the twenty-first century.
2001 год начинает двадцать первый век.
2001 starts the 21st century.
1900 is in the nineteenth century.
1900 год находится в девятнадцатом веке.
1900 belongs to the 19th century.
2000 is in the twentieth century.
2000 год находится в двадцатом веке.
2000 belongs to the 20th century.
The twenty-first century covers 2001–2100.
Двадцать первый век охватывает 2001–2100.
Century boundaries.
The 1900s commonly identifies 1900–1909, while the twentieth century identifies 1901–2000.
These expressions should not be treated as exact synonyms.
The 1900s commonly refers to 1900–1909.
1900-е обычно относятся к 1900–1909.
"The 1900s" as a decade.
The twentieth century covers 1901–2000.
Двадцатый век охватывает 1901–2000.
"Twentieth century" is a longer period.
She was born in the 1900s.
Она родилась в 1900-х.
"The 1900s" decade.
The twentieth century included two world wars.
Двадцатый век включал две мировые войны.
"Twentieth century" broader period.
The 1900s and the twentieth century are not interchangeable.
1900-е и двадцатый век не взаимозаменяемы.
Different intervals.
The 2020s refers to 2020–2029, while the twenty-first century refers to 2001–2100.
A decade and a century are different periods even when their names overlap numerically.
The 2020s refers to 2020–2029.
2020-е относятся к 2020–2029.
"The 2020s" is a decade.
The twenty-first century refers to 2001–2100.
Двадцать первый век относится к 2001–2100.
"Twenty-first century" is a century.
Technology changed rapidly during the 2020s.
Технологии быстро менялись в 2020-х.
"The 2020s" decade.
We live in the twenty-first century.
Мы живём в двадцать первом веке.
"Twenty-first century" century.
A decade and a century are different periods.
Десятилетие и век — разные периоды.
Not interchangeable.
Fully written decade names are pluralized without an apostrophe.
For example, the 1980s and the 1990s, not the 1980's and 1990's.
The 1980s were a time of change.
1980-е были временем перемен.
Correct: "1980s" without apostrophe.
The 1990s saw rapid growth.
1990-е увидели быстрый рост.
Correct: "1990s" without apostrophe.
She grew up in the 2000s.
Она выросла в 2000-х.
Correct: "2000s" no apostrophe.
The 1980's is incorrect.
1980's — неправильно.
Incorrect: apostrophe is not used.
Always write the 1990s, not the 1990's.
Всегда пишите the 1990s, а не the 1990's.
No apostrophe in decade names.
Years are normally read using conventional year pronunciation patterns rather than automatically reading every digit separately.
For example, 1984 is nineteen eighty-four and 2026 is twenty twenty-six.
1984 is read as nineteen eighty-four.
1984 читается как nineteen eighty-four.
Year read in pairs.
2026 is read as twenty twenty-six.
2026 читается как twenty twenty-six.
Year read as twenty twenty-six.
1776 is read as seventeen seventy-six.
1776 читается как seventeen seventy-six.
Common pronunciation pattern.
2005 is read as two thousand and five.
2005 читается как two thousand and five.
Years 2000-2009 use "two thousand and ...".
2010 is read as twenty ten.
2010 читается как twenty ten.
Years after 2010 read as twenty + digits.
Digits after a decimal point are normally read individually.
For example, 3.14 is three point one four.
3.14 is read as three point one four.
3.14 читается как three point one four.
Digits after decimal are read individually.
0.5 is read as zero point five.
0.5 читается как zero point five.
"Point" separates whole and decimal parts.
2.75 is read as two point seven five.
2.75 читается как two point seven five.
Each digit after point is read separately.
1.05 is read as one point zero five.
1.05 читается как one point zero five.
Zero is pronounced.
10.3 is read as ten point three.
10.3 читается как ten point three.
Decimal reading pattern.
Zero should be pronounced when needed to distinguish digits after the decimal point.
For example, 2.05 is two point zero five.
2.05 is read as two point zero five.
2.05 читается как two point zero five.
Zero after decimal is pronounced.
0.75 is read as zero point seven five.
0.75 читается как zero point seven five.
Zero before decimal is read as "zero".
3.04 is read as three point zero four.
3.04 читается как three point zero four.
Zero is pronounced.
1.50 is read as one point five zero.
1.50 читается как one point five zero.
Trailing zero is pronounced.
0.5 is read as zero point five.
0.5 читается как zero point five.
"Zero point" is standard.
Percent follows a numerical value, while percentage is normally used as a noun.
For example, twenty percent of users and What percentage of users?
twenty percent of users
двадцать процентов пользователей
"Percent" follows a number.
What percentage of users?
Какой процент пользователей?
"Percentage" is a noun.
Ten percent of the students were absent.
Десять процентов студентов отсутствовали.
"Percent" after a number.
A high percentage of people agreed.
Высокий процент людей согласился.
"Percentage" as a noun.
What percentage of the total is that?
Какой это процент от общего числа?
"Percentage" in a question.
A difference between percentages measured in percentage points is not the same as a relative percentage increase.
For example, 20% to 25% is five percentage points but a twenty-five percent relative increase.
An increase from 20% to 25% is five percentage points.
Увеличение с 20% до 25% составляет пять процентных пунктов.
Percentage point measures absolute difference.
An increase from 20% to 25% is a twenty-five percent relative increase.
Увеличение с 20% до 25% — это относительный рост на двадцать пять процентов.
Relative increase is different.
Five percentage points versus a twenty-five percent increase.
Пять процентных пунктов против роста на двадцать пять процентов.
Two different measures.
Do not confuse percentage points with relative percentages.
Не путайте процентные пункты с относительными процентами.
Important distinction.
The report uses percentage points for absolute change.
В отчёте используются процентные пункты для абсолютного изменения.
Correct usage.
Verb agreement after a fraction depends on the noun phrase being measured.
For example, half of the cake is gone, but two thirds of the students are absent.
Half of the cake is gone.
Половина торта исчезла.
Singular verb "is" with "cake".
Two thirds of the students are absent.
Две трети студентов отсутствуют.
Plural verb "are" with "students".
One quarter of the water is gone.
Четверть воды исчезла.
Singular verb with uncountable noun.
Three quarters of the employees are satisfied.
Три четверти сотрудников удовлетворены.
Plural verb with plural noun.
A third of the information is missing.
Треть информации отсутствует.
Singular verb with "information".
Verb agreement after a percentage depends on the noun following of.
For example, Forty percent of the employees are remote, but forty percent of the equipment is unused.
Forty percent of the employees are remote.
Сорок процентов сотрудников работают удалённо.
Plural verb "are" with "employees".
Forty percent of the equipment is unused.
Сорок процентов оборудования не используется.
Singular verb "is" with "equipment".
Sixty percent of the students passed.
Шестьдесят процентов студентов сдали.
Plural verb with "students".
Ten percent of the water was lost.
Десять процентов воды было потеряно.
Singular verb with "water".
Twenty percent of the people are unhappy.
Двадцать процентов людей недовольны.
Plural verb with "people".
Measurement units remain singular when they form part of a compound modifier before a noun.
For example, a five-year-old child, a two-metre wall, and a ten-kilometre race.
a five-year-old child
пятилетний ребёнок
Singular "year" in compound modifier.
a two-metre wall
двухметровая стена
Singular "metre" in compound.
a ten-kilometre race
десятикилометровая гонка
Singular "kilometre" in compound.
a three-hour meeting
трёхчасовая встреча
Singular "hour" in compound modifier.
a twenty-kilogram suitcase
двадцатикилограммовый чемодан
Singular unit in compound adjective.
Numbers used as addresses, room numbers, flight numbers, and similar identifiers are not necessarily read as ordinary mathematical quantities.
For example, Flight 205, Room 12, and Bus 7 are identifier expressions.
Flight 205 is delayed.
Рейс 205 задерживается.
Identifier expression, not a quantity.
Room 12 is on the left.
Комната 12 слева.
Room number as identifier.
Bus 7 goes to the centre.
Автобус 7 идёт в центр.
Bus number as identifier.
She lives at 25 King Street.
Она живёт на Кинг-стрит, 25.
Address number.
Apartment 10 is on the fifth floor.
Квартира 10 на пятом этаже.
Apartment number as identifier.
Telephone numbers are normally read as individual digits or convenient groups, with zero sometimes pronounced as oh.
For example, 507 can be read as five-oh-seven.
507 can be read as five-oh-seven.
507 можно прочитать как five-oh-seven.
"Oh" for zero in telephone numbers.
The number is 555-1234.
Номер — 555-1234.
Read in groups.
Call 0800 123 456.
Позвоните по номеру 0800 123 456.
Digit by digit or in groups.
My number is 07700 900123.
Мой номер — 07700 900123.
Digits read individually.
The emergency number is 911.
Экстренный номер — 911.
Digits read individually.
Correct number usage requires control of cardinal and ordinal forms, large-number grammar, dates, time, fractions, decimals, percentages, measurements, agreement, and contextual pronunciation.
Before choosing a numerical form, identify whether the number expresses quantity, order, measurement, date, time, proportion, ranking, or identification.
She has three books.
У неё три книги.
Cardinal number for quantity.
This is the third book.
Это третья книга.
Ordinal number for position.
Three hundred people attended.
Триста человек присутствовали.
Large number grammar.
15 August 2026
15 августа 2026
Date expression.
The 1980s were a time of change.
1980-е были временем перемен.
Decade expression.