The eleventh of January

Question

I have to check some answers. Are they correct?

1st January, 2nd January, 3rd January, 4th January, 11th January, 12th January, 13th January, 21st January, 22nd January, 23rd January, 24th January, 31st January

Thanks.

¡Pobrecita! Los yankees vs. los inglés. Lo siento Nila. :) - Yeser007, Nov 14, 2011

That is funny Yeser! Imagine being both right and wrong depending which side of the Atlantic you are on. I'm so glad English was my first language. I don't think I could take learning it as an adult. :) - Nicole-B, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 1

Hi Nila,

The endings for the numbers are correct as far as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. However, we reverse the way we say it:

January 1st, January 2nd, January 11th, etc.

The only way it would sound correct with the numbers first would be to use "of" in between:

the first of January; the thirteenth of January; the 24th of January, etc.

You will never hear an English speaking native say something like:

It's 1st January.

or

The party is on fifteenth January.

Answer 2

Nicole said

You will never hear an English speaking native say something like: It's 1st January. or The party is on fifteenth January. or The party is on fifteenth January.

Sorry Nicole I beg to differ. That's exactly what an English speaking native would say, particularly over here but we would add the word the.

It's the 1st January.

or

The party is on the fifteenth January

Eddy, I am a Hungarian, but it does not sound right to my "americanized" ear. - Zoltán, Nov 14, 2011

Eddy is right here. - MaryMcc, Nov 14, 2011

I am sorry Eddy but I have to disagree most respectfully here, because even in England it is better English to say it is the 14th ''OF'' January not simply 14th January. We would of course say January 14th without the word of - FELIZ77, Nov 14, 2011

Sorry, I stand corrected!!!!! That sounded completely wrong to my U.S. ears. I never even heard someone from Great Britain say it like that. But I believe you. - Nicole-B, Nov 14, 2011

I was hoping to improve my Spanish today, but I suppose I improved my English. Thanks Eddy!! :) - Nicole-B, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 3

Nichole I think this is a US/UK thing. Over her we write dates 11th January in letter headings, on calenders and in diaries but we would say the 11th of January. I know it is weird but that is how it is, it sounds wrong to my ear when people say January 11th, really grates, but I do let them off if they have an American accent

Hey, Mary, can you also forgive us poor commonwealth Canucks for living too close to the Yankee giant?? Trying to straddle our English language roots and American English, we do both. I think we're conflicted. - Moe, Nov 14, 2011

Yes Moe, in fact I could forgive anyone who doesn't have an English accent ;) - MaryMcc, Nov 14, 2011

That is funny Moe. You must really be torn. jeje - Nicole-B, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 4

I'm with Nicole that no one from the U.S. would say that, I can't speak for other English speakers however.

Hi and welcome to the forum!!! Someone on my side finally!!! ;) - Nicole-B, Nov 14, 2011

Oh Nicole you don't have to worry, there are plenty of people here on your side. As a New Englander I can say I'm with you 100% but it is one of those American/British differences. - Yeser007, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 5

Mary said:

I know it is weird but that is how it is, it sounds wrong to my ear when people say January 11th, really grates, but I do let them off if they have an American accent

Thank you so much for your graciousness. I really must have confused Nila on this one. Now I am so curious that I will have to look for examples on the web of people from the other side of the pond discussing the date.

Believe me, where I come from we have enough issues with the way we say things already.

:) - Yeser007, Nov 14, 2011

Answer 6

That looks good to me.