Ordinal: A sequence form such as ; most dates use cardinal numbers.
Dates and age
To say dates, Italian often uses the article: , . For birthdays, you can say
To say age, Italian uses , not : , , . This is a very common pattern.
For the first day of the month, Italian usually uses the ordinal : . Other dates usually use cardinal numbers: .
When you ask about age, use or politely For months with babies, use
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| the tenth of July | ||
| the tenth of July | ||
| the first of January | ||
| the first of January | ||
| I am thirty years old | ||
| I am thirty years old | ||
| he is six months old | ||
| he is six months old | ||
Il mio compleanno è il dieci luglio.My birthday is on the tenth of July.
Il suo compleanno è il ventotto marzo.Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
Milo compie gli anni il primo gennaio.Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
Io ho trent’anni.I am thirty years old.
Sofia ha dieci anni.Sofia is ten years old.
Il bambino ha sei mesi.The baby is six months old.
Quanti anni hai?How old are you?
Quanti mesi ha?How old is he? / How many months old is he?
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
.
Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
.
I am thirty years old.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Il mio compleanno è il luglio.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
Il suo compleanno è il marzo.
Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
Milo compie gli anni il gennaio.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
Io trent’anni.
I am thirty years old.
Sofia dieci anni.
Sofia is ten years old.
Il bambino sei mesi.
The baby is six months old.
Quanti anni ?
How old are you?
Quanti mesi ?
How old is he? / How many months old is he?
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Milo compie gli anni il gennaio.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
Io trent’anni.
I am thirty years old.
Sofia dieci anni.
Sofia is ten years old.
Il bambino sei mesi.
The baby is six months old.
Quanti anni ?
How old are you?
Quanti mesi ?
How old is he? / How many months old is he?
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
I am thirty years old.
Sofia is ten years old.
The baby is six months old.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
My birthday is on the tenth of July.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Her birthday is on the twenty-eighth of March.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Milo’s birthday is on the first of January.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I am thirty years old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I am thirty years old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
