Objective: To learn some useful words and expressions for describing your job.
Think about it!
What rules are there for saying numbers in your language? When was the last time you had a problem with the bank?
Have you ever had any money put into your account by mistake? What happened? Has any money ever come out of your
account by mistake? What happened? How good are you at remembering phone numbers?
Practical English
How to say numbers in English
Learn how to say numbers in English. [See below for American English variations.]
100s
Put “and” between the
hundreds and tens: 432 =
four hundred and thirty-two
1,000s
There’s no “and” between the
thousands and hundreds:
a) 2,932 = two thousand, nine
hundred and thirty-two
b) 54,958 = fifty four
thousand, nine hundred
and fifty-eight
100,000s
Put an “and” between the
“hundred thousands” and
the “ten thousands”:
765,243 = seven hundred
and sixty-five thousand, two
hundred and forty-three.
Million / billion
A million is a thousand-
thousand (1,000,000);
and a billion is a thousand-
million (1,000,000,000):
4,568,345 = four million,
five hundred and sixty
eight thousand, three
hundred and forty-five
Series of numbers
When saying a series of
numbers (for a credit card,
bank account, flight, etc.) use
“zero” or “oh” (British English):
0873 = oh eight seven three /
zero eight seven three
Temperatures
Use “point” to refer to the
full-stop, and “zero” for 0ºC:
a) 0ºC = zero degrees
centigrade
b) 2.5ºC = two point five
degrees centigrade
Decimals
Use “zero” or “nought”
(British English) for “0”.
Say “point” to refer to the
full stop:
a) 0.5 = zero point five
b) 0.76 = zero point seven six
Do you want to improve your speaking ability and fluency? Sign up for Skype/Telephone classes in our shop at: www.learnhotenglish.com
Track 8: englishman & us woman
Days & months Dialogue: Bank problems
When saying the days, use Dawn has called the bank. She’s asking about a letter
“the” and “of”: 3rd June = she’s received recently. [Complete the dialogue with the
the third of June correct numbers, dates, etc.] could you lend
me a hundred
pounds?
Dates Bank: City Bank. Mike Prentice
Use “oh” with dates. For dates speaking. How may I
from 2000, say “thousand”: help you?
a) 1904 = nineteen oh four Dawn: Oh, hi, erm, I was just
b) 1987 = nineteen eighty seven phoning about a letter
c) 2010 = two thousand and ten I received yesterday.
It says that I’m
Phone numbers overdrawn.
Use “zero” or “oh” (British Bank: OK. Can I have your
English) for “0” when name, please?
saying phone numbers. Dawn: Dawn Brown.
Use “double” for two digits Bank: And your account
that are the same: number?
0945 662344 = oh nine Dawn: (1) .
four five, double six two Bank: OK. I just need to
three double four ask you a couple of which
questions for security means you were £68
“A” or “one”? reasons. Can I have overdrawn.
You can say a hundred or your date of birth, Dawn: OK, so, erm, how much
one hundred if it’s the start please? is that costing me?
of the number: Dawn: Yes, it’s (2) Bank: Well, there’s a £30
106 = a hundred and six /  . charge for being
one hundred and six Bank: And the first and third overdrawn, plus we
However, if the 100 isn’t at the digits of your six digit apply a (8) .
start, you have to use “one”: security code. monthly interest rate on
2,150 = two thousand, one Dawn: Eight and four. the overdrawn amount.
hundred and fifty (NOT Bank: Very good. Well, Ms Dawn: Per month?
two thousand, a hundred Brown. I can see on Bank: Yes.
and fifty) screen that you’ve Dawn: So, you’re charging me
been (3) about 25% interest rate
American English overdrawn since the 4th per year!
In general, Americans use of September. Bank: Well, (9)
“and” a lot less: Dawn: But I don’t understand. to be precise.
a) 2,932 = two thousand, nine I know I had £3,828 Dawn: So, erm, if I apply for
hundred, thirty-two in my account on (4) an overdraft, will the
b) 54,958 = fifty four thousand, . interest rates come
nine hundred, fifty-eight Bank: Yes, and as I can see down?
c) 765,243 = seven hundred from your records you Bank: I’m afraid it’s a bit late
sixty-five thousand, two made a payment of (5) now. The penalty rates
hundred forty-three on 2nd will still apply. However,
Americans often use September, so your once your account is
multiples of a hundred: balance was £1,369, and in order again, we can
1,500 = fifteen hundred; then another payment talk about securing an
1,300 = thirteen hundred for (6) on overdraft limit for the
Notice how Americans put 3rd September, which future.
the month first followed by the left you with £1,082.75 Dawn: OK, thanks very much.
day: June 3rd = June third in the account, Bank: Thank you for your call.
Some Americans say and then you made Have a nice day.
“twenty” for dates from the another payment on Dawn: Bye.
year 2000: 2010 = twenty ten 4th September for (7) Bank: Bye.
13