#0049. Dates

Introduction

1. The word for date in Russian is число. This is a neuter noun. These are the expressions we use to ask what the date is, was, will be:

   Какое сегодня число?
   What is today's date?

   Какое число было вчера?
   What was yesterday's date?

   Какое число будет завтра?
   What will the date be tomorrow?

2. The answers to these questions will consist of the neuter form of an ordinal (date) followed by the month in the genitive case. The word число is used only in the question, not in the answer. Look at the examples:

   Сегодня пятое марта.
   Today is the fifth of Mrach.

   Вчера было четвёртое марта.
   Yesterday was the fourth of March.

   Завтра будет шестое марта.
   tomorrow will be the sixth of March.

3. Dates can also be used to answer the question когда? (when), or какого числа? (on what date).

   Когда они приедут из Москвы?
   Какого числа они приедут из Москвы?

Answering questions

1. To answer the question когда? with a month, we use the preposition в and the month in the prepositional case:

   В декабре в Москве очень холодно.

2. With days of the week we use the preposition в and the day of the week in the accusative case:

   Oни приедут к нам в среду.

   When answering questions with a date and a month, we put both the date (ordinal) and the month in the genitive case:

   Они приедут седьмого ноября.

3. When writing dates, Russians put the date first followed by the month and separated by a period:

   11.07 = July 11

4. Sometimes Russians will use Roman numerals for the month:

   11.VII

Expressing dates

1. When talking only about the year, you should use the preposition в and the ordinal form of the year in the prepositional case:

   Он родился в тысяча девятьсот семьдесят четвёртом году.

2. Remember that with ordinal numerals (which are actually adjectives) the word for the last number is the only one that will have endings.

3. If the month is included in the date, the month will be in the prepositional case (preceded by the preposition в), and the year will be in the genitive case:

   Она родилась в августе тысяча девятьсот семьдесят четвёртого года.

4. When the date includes the day of the month, then every item (day, month, year) will be in the genitive case:

   Она родилась второго августа тысяча девятьсот семьдесят четвёртого года.