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Activities: “How to talk about dates in English?”

By: Erin Kuester
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our English Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity: When did it happen?

Do you know what year each of these events happened?

  • First, guess the century when the event happened

  • Then look up the exact date

  • Then write the exact date in numerals then in words

For example:

  • Event: The Declaration of Independence is signed

  • Century: “the 18th century” OR “the 1700s”

  • Exact date (numerals): “7/4/1776”

  • Exact date (words): “July fourth, seventeen seventy-six” or “the fourth of July, seventeen-seventy-six”

Now it’s your turn!

  • Event: The Beatles perform their first concert in the US

    Century:

    e.g. the 20th century / the 1900s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 2/11/1964

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. February eleventh, nineteen sixty-four / the eleventh of February, nineteen sixty-four

  • Event: The first phone call

    Century:

    e.g. the 19th century / the 1800s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 3/10/1876

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. March third, eighteen seventy-six / the third of March, eighteen seventy-six

  • Event: The sinking of the Titanic (the date when it finished sinking)

    Century:

    e.g. the 20th century / the 1900s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 4/15/1912

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. April fifteenth, nineteen twelve / the fifteenth of April, nineteen twelve

  • Event: The Normans arrive in England, beginning the Norman Conquest

    Century:

    e.g. the 9th century / the 1000s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 9/28/1066

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. September twenty-eighth, ten sixty-six / The twenty-eighth of September, ten sixty-six

  • Event: The novel The Hunger Games is released

    Century:

    e.g. The 21st century / the 2000s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 9/14/2008

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. September fourteenth, two thousand (and) eight / The fourteenth of September, two thousand (and) eight

  • Event: William Shakespeare dies in England

    Century:

    e.g. the 17th century / the 1600s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 4/23/1616

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. April twenty-third, sixteen sixteen / the twenty-third of April, sixteen sixteen

  • Event: Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo

    Century:

    e.g. the 19th century / the 1800s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 6/18/1815

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. June eighteenth, eighteen fifteen / The eighteenth of June, eighteen fifteen

  • Event: Neil Armstrong walks on the moon

    Century:

    e.g. the 20th century / the 1900s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 7/20/1969

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. July twentieth, nineteen sixty-nine / the twentieth of July nineteen sixty-nine

  • Event: Microsoft founded

    Century:

    e.g. the 20th century / the 1900s

    Exact date (numerals):

    e.g. 4/8/1975

    Exact date (words):

    e.g. April eighth, nineteen seventy-five / the eighth of April, nineteen seventy-five

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