New here? This is lesson 50 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Months and dates in English
Dee needs today's date for a punch card at the Blue Plate. Ana starts in January, but Dee only needed October.
Murray sits at the counter and nods, as if the old song had a calendar.
By the end, you'll ask the date, say a month and day, and ask when a birthday is.
In the United States, people say October twelfth, not twelve October.
By the end of this lesson
Say the month, day, and date, and ask when.
- What's the date today?What month and day is it?
- October twelfth.month ten, day twelve
- When's your birthday?On which date were you born?
- My birthday is ___.I was born on this date
- What month is it?Which of the twelve months is now?
- Next month.the month after this one
Scene — the punch card
Same morning at the Blue Plate. Dee holds a punch card and a pencil. She needs today's date.
Ana stands at the counter. Murray sits on two stools with his black coffee still full.
The jukebox by the door stays quiet. Button B7 still has a blank label.
Learn — months and dates
Six short lines cover the date, the month, and birthdays.
You'll ask what's the date today, and you'll say October twelfth.
What's the date today?
What month and day is it?
When to use it: Ask this when you need the month and day.
Learn it as one piece to ask the date.
Say it: What's and the can link.
October twelfth.
month ten, day twelve
When to use it: Say the month first, then the day number.
Learn it as one piece, month then day.
Say it: Keep the th sound at the end.
When's your birthday?
On which date were you born?
When to use it: Ask this to learn the date someone was born.
Learn it as one piece to ask a birthday.
Say it: When's and your can link.
My birthday is ___.
I was born on this date
When to use it: Say this, then add the month and day.
Learn it as one piece, then add your date.
What month is it?
Which of the twelve months is now?
When to use it: Ask this when you only need the month.
Learn it as one piece to ask the month.
Say it: The th in month is at the end.
Next month.
the month after this one
When to use it: Say this for the month after this one.
Learn it as one piece for the month after.
Story — she starts at January
Watch Dee ask for today's date. Ana starts with January, but Dee only needed October.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Dee holds a punch card and a pencil. She looks at Ana.
DeeWhen is it? What's the date today?She asks when, then she asks the month and day.
AnaWhat day is today?Which day of the week is this day?- DeeIt's Saturday, hon. What month is it?She names the day, then she asks the month.
- Ana starts at January and lists the months. Dee waits, then cuts in.
- DeeJust October twelfth, hon.month ten, day twelve
MurrayWhen's your birthday?On which date were you born?- AnaMy birthday is November third.I was born on this date
- MurrayWell, next month.the month after this one
- He nods, as if the old song had a calendar. His coffee is still full.
Practice — date or day
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, build a line, and swap a word.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Dee needs the month and day for her punch card. It is month ten, day twelve.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
When's your birthday?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
month ten, day twelve
October ____.
Build the line
Build the line
On which date were you born?
?
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Murray says:
Pick the reply
When's your birthday?
On which date were you born?
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You only want the name of this month, not the day.
What ____ is it?
True or false?
True or false?
This means the month before this one.
Put the chat in order
- DeeWhat comes first?
- Ana…
- Dee…
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want the day of the week, like Monday, not the month and day.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A meeting is coming. You ask the day or time of that meeting.
Say it — say the date
Now you're Ana at the counter. Dee needs a date for the punch card. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- Ana (you)Ask which of the twelve months is now.
Ask which of the twelve months is now.
What month is it?
Which of the twelve months is now?
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| What's the date today? | What month and day is it? | |
| October twelfth. | month ten, day twelve | |
| When's your birthday? | On which date were you born? | |
| My birthday is ___. | I was born on this date | |
| What month is it? | Which of the twelve months is now? | |
| Next month. | the month after this one |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these dates handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps dates ready at the counter.
Open Yak Cards