CEFR A1 · 5 min
At the Star Casino in Sydney, every night was a number problem. Table 17 wants two martinis. Bill for $248. Thirty-five guests on the reservation. I learned English numbers fast because I had to — and so will you.
Today's focus: Numbers 1–100, prices, and quantities
Two tricky zones:
- 13 vs 30: thirTEEN vs THIRty. The stress changes completely. Say 13 with stress on the second syllable, 30 on the first.
- Prices: $24.50 = twenty-four dollars fifty (not twenty-four point fifty). The decimal point becomes the word and in spoken British English.
Teens 13–19: thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. Tens 20–90: twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety.
Examples in context
Try it — click to reveal the answer
▶ Write in words: 47
Tens first, then units, joined with a hyphen for 21-99.
▶ Which is correct for $16.30? (a) sixteen point thirty (b) sixteen dollars thirty (c) one six three zero
In everyday spoken English, omit ‘cents’ when the context is clear.
▶ Which number has stress on the FIRST syllable: 14 or 40?
This distinction prevents real misunderstandings in busy environments like restaurants and shops.
For teens (13-19), stress the second syllable. For tens (30, 40…), stress the first. Stress is how listeners tell the difference.
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification. Cambridge CELTA course completed — 120 supervised teaching hours and four written assignments validated to the required standard.