Introduction

Numbers are everywhere in our daily life. From the moment we wake up and check the time, to buying a coffee, giving our phone number, talking about our age, or reading a price in a shop, numbers are constantly present. In this unit, we will build your confidence with English numbers step by step. You will not simply memorize them — you will learn how to use them naturally in real-life situations.

At level A1, mastering numbers is essential because they allow you to manage everyday communication. When you can understand and say numbers clearly, you immediately feel more independent and more secure when speaking English.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this unit, you will confidently understand and use English numbers in real-life situations.

You will learn how to say numbers from 0 to 100, talk about age, prices, time and quantities, understand phone numbers, and avoid common pronunciation mistakes.

Numbers from 0 to 20

Let us begin with the foundation. Numbers from 0 to 20 are the most important ones because they are the base for all other numbers. Some of them are regular and easy to remember, while others require more attention.

The numbers from thirteen to nineteen end with “-teen”.

This ending is very important because it helps you recognize and pronounce these numbers correctly. Listen carefully to the stress: thirTEEN, fourTEEN, fifTEEN. The stress is strong on the second part.

Numbers from 21 to 100

Once you know the first twenty numbers, everything becomes easier. From 21 to 99, English numbers follow a simple structure. First, you say the tens number, then the unit number.

For example, 21 is twenty-one, 34 is thirty-four, 58 is fifty-eight, and 99 is ninety-nine. Notice that we use a hyphen between the two parts.

Be careful with pronunciation differences between “-teen” and “-ty”.

Students often confuse fifteen and fifty, or thirteen and thirty. Remember that “-teen” has strong stress at the end, while “-ty” has stress at the beginning: FIFteen vs FIFTy.

Using Numbers in Real Life

Now let us move from theory to real communication. Numbers are useful only when you can use them in context.

When you talk about age, you say: “I am 25 years old.” In everyday English, we often simply say: “I am 25.” If you ask someone, you say: “How old are you?”

When talking about prices, you say: “It costs 12 euros.” Or in another context: “This sandwich is 4.50.” If you see $7.99, you say: “seven ninety-nine.”

For phone numbers, we usually say each number separately. For example, 347 892 610 is said as: three four seven – eight nine two – six one zero.

When talking about quantities, you can say: “I have 3 brothers.” “There are 20 students in the class.” “We need 100 chairs.”

Practice Exercises

Now it is your turn to practice and build confidence with numbers.

Take your time and answer carefully. Read each sentence aloud if possible.

1. Write in words: 14
2. Write in words: 40
3. Write in words: 73
4. How do you say 15.99 in a shop?
5. Complete the sentence: I am ___ years old. (use 28)
6. Write in numbers: eighty-five
7. Write in numbers: nineteen
8. Write in words: 100

Answer Key

1. fourteen
2. forty
3. seventy-three
4. fifteen ninety-nine
5. I am 28 years old.
6. 85
7. 19
8. one hundred