Lesson 8: Asking for & Giving Dates
Combining Day, Month, and Year
You have learned about months and ordinal numbers. Now, let's combine them to ask for and give a full date! This is a very important skill for filling out forms, making appointments, and talking about history.
Key Vocabulary
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Date
A specific day, identified by its day, month, and year.
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Date of Birth
The exact date on which a person was born.
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Format
The way in which something is arranged or set out.
Asking for the Date
To ask for today's date, you can say:
- "What is the date today?"
- "What's today's date?"
Two Ways to Say the Date
In English, there are two common ways to say the full date. Let's use today, June 11, 2025, as an example.
Format 1: Month + Day (More common in American English)
We say: [Month] + [Ordinal Number], [Year]
Example: "June eleventh, twenty twenty-five."
Format 2: Day + Month (More common in British English)
We say: the + [Ordinal Number] + of + [Month], [Year]
Example: "The eleventh of June, twenty twenty-five."
(Note: Both ways are correct and understood everywhere!)
Usage Note: How to Write the Date
Writing the date can be different in different countries. This can be confusing!
- American English (MM/DD/YYYY): The month comes first.
Example: June 11, 2025 ➞ 6/11/2025 - British English (DD/MM/YYYY): The day comes first.
Example: 11 June 2025 ➞ 11/6/2025 - Important Tip: To avoid confusion, it is often best to write the month with letters (e.g., 11 June 2025). This is always clear for everyone.
In Conversation
Srey is helping Bora fill out an application form.
Bora: Srey, this form asks for today's date. What's the date today?
Srey: Today is June eleventh, twenty twenty-five.
Bora: Thank you. And it asks for my date of birth.
Srey: When were you born?
Bora: I was born on the third of August, nineteen ninety-eight.
Srey: Okay, so you can write that as August 3, 1998, or 8/3/1998 in the American format.
Bora: I see. This is very useful to know!
Check Your Understanding
- How do you SAY this date: 15/11/2024 (British/International style)?
- a) The fifty of November, twenty twenty-four.
- b) The fifteen of November, twenty twenty-four.
- c) The fifteenth of November, twenty twenty-four.
Answer: c) The fifteenth of November, twenty twenty-four.
- You want to know today's date. What can you ask?
- a) How is the date?
- b) What's today's date?
- c) When is the date?
Answer: b) What's today's date?
- In American English (MM/DD/YYYY), how is March 4, 2026 written with numbers?
- a) 4/3/2026
- b) 3/4/2026
- c) 2026/3/4
Answer: b) 3/4/2026
Your Mission
- My Dates: Write your full date of birth in two ways. (e.g., "July 20, 1999" and "The twentieth of July, nineteen ninety-nine.")
- Practice: Find three important dates in Cambodian history (e.g., Independence Day - November 9). Write the full date in English.
- Speak: Your mission is to ask a friend or family member, "What is the date today?". Then, say the full date back to them in English.