Understanding numbers, times, and dates

Overview

Edexcel GCSE French demands absolute precision in the transcription and production of quantitative data. Mastery of cardinal/ordinal numbers, the 24-hour clock, and calendar vocabulary is critical for accessing marks in Listening (AO1) and Reading (AO3) where distractors often rely on numerical nuance, and for ensuring communication clarity in Speaking (AO2) and Writing (AO4). Examiners expect candidates to not only understand this data but to produce it accurately under pressure, avoiding common errors like incorrect capitalization or preposition use. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the core knowledge and exam techniques required to turn this fundamental topic into a reliable source of marks.

Core Number Systems

Cardinal Numbers (1-100+)

What you need to know: French numbers are logical until 69, after which they become mathematical, especially in Standard French. Candidates must be able to recognise and produce these forms instantly.

Key Patterns:

• 1-69: Largely regular. Key phonetic traps include deux (2) vs douze (12) and treize (13) vs seize (16).
• 70-79: Based on 60. soixante-dix (70), soixante-et-onze (71), soixante-douze (72), etc.
• 80-99: Based on 20. quatre-vingts (80), quatre-vingt-un (81), quatre-vingt-dix (90), quatre-vingt-onze (91).

Why it matters: In Listening, an answer might be soixante-seize (76), with a distractor of seize (16). In Speaking, hesitation over these numbers can lose you fluency marks. Credit is given for the correct formation, and marks are lost where ambiguity arises.

Ordinal Numbers

What you need to know: Ordinal numbers (first, second, third) are crucial for dates and sequencing. The main rule is adding -ième to the cardinal number, with a few exceptions.

Specific Knowledge:

• First: premier (masculine) / première (feminine). This is the most common exception and is essential for dates (le premier mai).
• Second: Can be deuxième or second(e). Deuxième is more common, especially when there are more than two items in a list.
• Fifth: cinquième (note the u).
• Ninth: neuvième (the f becomes a v).

Telling the Time (L'Heure)

The 24-Hour Clock

What you need to know: The 24-hour clock (l'heure officielle) is standard in all written contexts: train timetables, school schedules, official appointments. Candidates must be fluent in this system.

Key Structures:

• Format: [Hour]h[Minute]. Example: 14h30.
• Spoken Form: quatorze heures trente. The word heures is always plural (unless it's 1 o'clock) and minutes is often omitted.
• Key Times: midi (12h00) and minuit (00h00). Examiners will penalize the use of douze heures for noon.

The 12-Hour Clock & Common Phrases

What you need to know: While less formal, the 12-hour clock is common in spoken French and uses specific phrases for quarter and half hours.

Specific Knowledge:

• ...et quart: quarter past (e.g., trois heures et quart - 3:15)
• ...et demie: half past (e.g., trois heures et demie - 3:30). Note demie agrees with heure (feminine).
• ...moins le quart: quarter to (e.g., quatre heures moins le quart - 3:45)

Expressing Dates (Les Dates)

Structure and Prepositions

What you need to know: The format for dates is rigid. Marks are consistently lost for incorrect structure and capitalization.

Key Rules:

• Format: le + [number] + [month] + [year]. Example: le 5 mai 2023. The le is mandatory.
• Capitalization: Days of the week and months of the year are never capitalized in French unless they begin a sentence. This is a key marking point in AO4 (Writing).
• Prepositions: Use en for months, seasons, and years (en mai, en hiver, en 2024). Use le for specific dates (le 14 juillet).