The ways to talk about age in English accurately

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Age is one of the basic and essential pieces of information when introducing oneself in English. In today's article, PREP will share with you the detailed ways to talk about age in English!

I. How to ask about age in English

Before learning how to talk about age in English, let's explore the structure of asking about age in common, formal, and polite situations below with PREP!

Common ways to ask about age	Example
How old + to be + subject?	How old are you? How old is Jane? How old is your brother?
What is one’s age?	What is his age? What is her age? What is Maria’s age?

However, for some people, age is a sensitive issue. Therefore, to avoid being seen as rude, the questioner should ask age in a clever and polite way. Here are some sample age questions in English with a formal tone.

Would you mind if I asked how old you are?
Would you mind telling me your age?
May I know how old you are?
Do you mind if I ask your age?
Do you mind telling me your age?

II. How to answer the question of age in English

After receiving the question about age, how should we answer? Let's pocket how to say age in English with PREP right below!

How to talk about age in English	Example
Subject + to be + age (years old)	I'm 15 years old. Anna is 25 years old. My mother is 45 years old.

Additionally, we can add some adverbs in our age answers to diversify our responses.

Early: the beginning (ranging from 0 to 3). For example: Jessica is in her early thirties.
Mid: the middle (ranging from 4 to 7). For example: My father is in his mid fifties.
Late: the end (ranging from 8 to 9). For example: My grandmother is in her late eighties.

How to answer the question of age in English

III. Some English vocabulary to talk about age in English

Let's quickly pocket some English vocabulary to talk about age in English with PREP right below!

Some English vocabulary to talk about age in English	Meaning	Example
Baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ (Noun)	from 0 to 1 year old, newborn	My baby’s name is Anna.
Toddler /ˈtɒd.lər/ (Noun)	from 1 to 3 years old	These toys are suitable for toddlers.
Child /tʃaɪld/ (Noun)	from 4 to 12 years old	When I was a child, I used to love climbing.
Teenager /ˈtiːnˌeɪ.dʒər/ (Noun)	from 13 to 19 years old	This film attracts a lot of teenagers.
Adult /ˈædʌlt/ (Noun)	from 20 to 50 years old	Only adults are invited to the party.
Elderly /ˈel.dəl.i/ (Noun)	over 60 or 65 years old	The city is building nursing homes for the elderly.

IV. Dialogue on asking and answering age in English

Let's read some dialogues on asking and answering age in English below with PREP!

1. Dialogue 1

Dialogue 1 - Conversation between two people:

A: Hey, how old are you turning this year?
B: I'll be turning 25. It feels like time is flying by!
A: Wow, a quarter of a century! Any special plans for your birthday?
B: Not sure yet, maybe a small gathering with friends. How about you? How old are you?
A: I'm turning 27. Thinking of a weekend getaway to celebrate.
B: Sounds like a great idea! Happy early birthday!

2. Dialogue 2

Dialogue 2 - At a birthday party:

A: Hi, happy birthday! How old are you turning today?
B: Thank you! I'm turning 30.
A: Big milestone! How does it feel to enter a new decade?
B: It's a mix of emotions, but I'm excited for what's to come.

2. Dialogue 3

Dialogue 3 - At Grandma Mary's 80th birthday celebration:

John (J)
Sarah (S)
Grandma Mary (G)

J: Hi Sarah, have you seen Grandma Mary? I want to wish her a happy birthday.
S: Yes, she's over there by the garden. Can you believe she's 80 years old today?
J: Wow, 80! She doesn't look a day over 70. Let's go say hello.
(John and Sarah walk over to Grandma Mary.)
J: Hi Grandma Mary! Happy birthday!
G: Thank you, John! It's so nice to see you.
S: Happy birthday, Grandma! You look amazing. How do you feel today?
G: I feel wonderful, Sarah. Thank you both for coming.
J: We wouldn't miss it for the world. So, what's your secret to looking so young at 80?
G: Oh, it's no secret. Just a lot of love, laughter, and staying active.
S: That's great advice. Do you have any special plans for today?
G: Well, after the party, I’m planning to go for a walk in the park with the family.
J: That sounds lovely. By the way, Grandma, I was curious, what was your favorite birthday celebration in the past?
G: Oh, that's a tough one. But I think my 50th was very special. The whole family was together, and we had a big picnic by the lake.
S: That sounds wonderful. Well, we hope today is just as special for you.
J: Yes, absolutely. Here’s to many more happy and healthy years ahead!
G: Thank you, dear. I appreciate it. Now, let's go enjoy the party!

PREP hopes that through this article, you have learned the ways to talk about age in English along with vocabulary related to the topic of age. Keep following PREP to update yourself with more interesting and useful English knowledge!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.