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Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging. One of the frequent stumbling blocks for English Learners (EL) is expressing their age correctly.

How often have you found yourself saying, «I am 15 years old,» or heard someone else say it?

Well, actually, the correct expression is: «I am 15 Years Old.»

When it comes to telling someone your age in English, the correct way to do it is to say, «I am [your age] years old.» For example, «I am 18 years old» or «I am 30 years old.» This may seem slightly different from how it’s expressed in Spanish, “Yo tengo 18 años,” but there’s a good reason for this structure.

The reason we use «I am» to express age in English is rooted in how we think about age. In English, age is considered a characteristic or attribute of a person, much like their name, gender, or nationality. When we say, «I am 18 years old,» we describe ourselves and state a fact about our identity.

Another common mistake ELs make is using «of» instead of «old» when expressing age. They might say, «I am 18 years of age,» thinking it’s a more formal or correct way to convey their age. While «of age» is not grammatically incorrect, it’s a less common and somewhat formal way to express age in everyday conversation. The more standard and widely accepted form is «I am 18 years old.»

Here are a few tips to help you express your age correctly in English:

• Practice makes perfect: Repeatedly saying, «I am [your age] years old,» will help reinforce the correct structure in your mind.
• Listening is essential: Listen and pay extra attention to how native speakers express their age in conversations, movies, or TV shows. This will help you become more familiar with the correct usage.
• Use Age in Context: When introducing yourself or discussing your age, incorporate it into natural conversations. For instance, «Hi, I’m [your name], and I am 18 years old.»
• Learn from Mistakes: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the learning process. Correct yourself when you catch errors; over time, the correct structure will become more natural.