Chapter 1
Getting Down to Basics
IN THIS CHAPTER
Using cardinal and ordinal numbers
Expressing dates
Telling time
Reviewing parts of speech
Being able to use cardinal and ordinal numbers and recognizing parts of speech are essential French skills. Knowing these basics will help you perfect your oral and written French.
Using Numbers
Numbers are one of the most basic and useful parts of language. In addition to simple counting, you need cardinal numbers for communicating dates, time, prices, phone numbers, addresses, and so much more. You use ordinal numbers to express the number of a floor or the order of a person in a race or competition. We discuss these numbers here.
Counting with cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers are for counting, and the low numbers are easy. You may already know them backwards and forwards, but if not, all you need to do is memorize them. The higher numbers get a bit more complicated. Check out the following lists of French numbers, starting with easy ones and moving on to more difficult ones.
Number
French
Number
French
0
zéro
5
cinq
1
un, une
6
six
2
deux
7
sept
3
trois
8
huit
4
quatre
9
neuf
Here are the easier double digits:
Number
French
Number
French
10
dix
40
quarante
11
onze
41
quarante et un
quarante-et-un
12
douze
42
quarante-deux
13
treize
43
quarante-trois
14
quatorze
44
quarante-quatre
15
quinze
45
quarante-cinq
16
seize
46
quarante-six
17
dix-sept
47
quarante-sept
18
dix-huit
48
quarante-huit
19
dix-neuf
49
quarante-neuf
20
vingt
50
cinquante
21
vingt et un vingt-et-un
51
cinquante et un cinquante-et-un
22
vingt-deux
52
cinquante-deux
23
vingt-trois
53
cinquante-trois
24
vingt-quatre
54
cinquante-quatre
25
vingt-cinq
55
cinquante-cinq
26
vingt-six
56
cinquante-six
27
vingt-sept
57
cinquante-sept
28
vingt-huit
58
cinquante-huit
29
vingt-neuf
59
cinquante-neuf
30
trente
60
soixante
31
trente et un
trente-et-un
61
soixante et un
soixante-et-un
32
trente-deux
62
soixante-deux
33
trente-trois
63
soixante-trois
34
trente-quatre
64
soixante-quatre
35
trente-cinq
65
soixante-cinq
36
trente-six
66
soixante-six
37
trente-sept
67
soixante-sept
38
trente-huit
68
soixante-huit
39
trente-neuf
69
soixante-neuf
The conjunction et (and) is used only for the numbers 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, and 71, with or without hyphens. For all other compound numbers through 99, use just a hyphen between the separate words.
Here are the trickier double digits:
Number
French
Number
French
70
soixante-dix
85
quatre-vingt-cinq
71
soixante et onze
86
quatre-vingt-six
72
soixante-douze
87
quatre-vingt-sept
73
soixante-treize
88
quatre-vingt-huit
74
soixante-quatorze
89
quatre-vingt-neuf
75
soixante-quinze
90
quatre-vingt-dix
76
soixante-seize
91
quatre-vingt-onze
77
soixante-dix-sept
92
quatre-vingt-douze
78
soixante-dix-huit
93
quatre-vingt-treize
79
soixante-dix-neuf
94
quatre-vingt-quatorze
80
quatre-vingts
95
quatre-vingt-quinze
81
quatre-vingt-un
96
quatre-vingt-seize
82
quatre-vingt-deux
97
quatre-vingt-dix-sept
83
quatre-vingt-trois
98
quatre-vingt-dix-huit
84
quatre-vingt-quatre
99
quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
And here are the big numbers:
Number
French
Number
French
100
cent
200
deux cents
1.000
mille
2.000
deux mille
1.000.000
un million
2.000.000
deux millions
1.000.000.000
un milliard
2.000.000.000
deux milliards
1.000.000.000.000
un billion
2.000.000.000.000
deux billions
Note the following about cardinal numbers:
