Welcome to Your 'Months & Seasons' Study Notes!

Hello future English experts! This chapter is part of the High Frequency Items you need to master. Learning the names of the months and seasons is essential—it helps you talk about your schedule, holidays, weather, and important dates. These words come up every single day!

Don't worry if spelling these long words seems tricky at first. We will break everything down step-by-step and use easy tricks to help you remember them.


Section 1: The Twelve Months of the Year

There are twelve months in a calendar year. You must know the correct spelling for all of them, and remember this crucial rule:

Rule 1: Always use a capital letter (Capitalization) for the names of the months.

List of the Months

We can group the months into quarters to make them easier to learn:

Quarter 1 (Q1) – Starting the year:

  • January (Jan.)
  • February (Feb.)
    (Note: This is one of the hardest to spell! Remember the 'r' in the middle: February)
  • March (Mar.)

Quarter 2 (Q2) – Spring and early Summer:

  • April (Apr.)
  • May (May)
  • June (Jun.)

Quarter 3 (Q3) – Peak Summer and early Autumn:

  • July (Jul.)
  • August (Aug.)
  • September (Sep.)

Quarter 4 (Q4) – End of the year:

  • October (Oct.)
  • November (Nov.)
  • December (Dec.)
Memory Aid: Shortening the Months

When you are writing informally (like in a diary or on a quick note), you can often shorten (or abbreviate) the months. You can see the abbreviations listed above in parentheses ().

  • Short Months: May, June, and July are usually not abbreviated, or only use the first three letters (e.g., Jun).

Key Takeaway: Learn the spelling of all twelve months, and never forget to use a capital letter! (e.g., My holiday is in July, not my holiday is in july.)


Section 2: The Four Seasons

The seasons are periods of the year characterized by specific weather patterns, temperatures, and daylight hours. They repeat every year.

List of the Seasons and Key Characteristics

1. Spring (March, April, May)

  • Weather: The weather warms up. It can be rainy.
  • Activities: Flowers grow; new life begins. (Think: New beginnings.)

2. Summer (June, July, August)

  • Weather: The hottest season. Long days and lots of sunshine.
  • Activities: Holidays, going to the beach, swimming. (Think: Fun in the sun!)

3. Autumn / Fall (September, October, November)

  • Naming Note: In British English (which Edexcel often uses), we say Autumn. In American English, they say Fall. Both are correct!
  • Weather: The weather starts to cool down. It can be windy.
  • Activities: Leaves change colour and fall from the trees. (Think: Falling leaves.)

4. Winter (December, January, February)

  • Weather: The coldest season. Short days and long nights. Often involves frost or snow.
  • Activities: Staying warm indoors, celebrating Christmas (in many cultures). (Think: Cold and cosy.)
Did you know? (Southern Hemisphere Connection)

If you live in a country in the Southern Hemisphere (like Australia or South Africa), your seasons are opposite! When it is Winter in Europe, it is Summer there. This is a great piece of high-frequency general knowledge!

Key Takeaway: Focus on the weather associated with each season to help remember the order and the vocabulary (hot, cold, sunny, rainy, windy).


Section 3: Using Months and Seasons (High-Frequency Grammar)

When you talk about months and seasons, you need to use the correct preposition. This is where many students make common mistakes.

Preposition Rule for Months and Seasons: Use 'IN'

We use the preposition in when talking generally about a month or a season.

Formula: Event + is + in + Month/Season

Examples:

  • We usually travel in August.
  • I love to wear sweaters in Winter.
  • The school year starts in September.
When to Use 'ON'

You only use the preposition on if you mention a specific date (the day and the month together).

Examples:

  • My birthday is on March 15th. (Specific date)
  • The exam is scheduled on Friday, May 10th. (Specific date)
  • But: The exam is in May. (General month)
Common Mistake to Avoid!

A very common mistake is adding the word "the" before a month or season.

  • DO NOT SAY: "I am taking a trip in the July."
  • SAY: "I am taking a trip in July."
Quick Grammar Review

Months/Seasons: Use IN (e.g., in Spring, in October)
Specific Dates: Use ON (e.g., on January 1st)


Section 4: Consolidation and Practice

Understanding Months and Seasons is vital for scheduling and communicating about the future. Practice spelling them aloud!

Accessibility Tip: Breaking Down Spelling

If you struggle with spelling, try sounding out the syllables (the small parts of the word). This is especially helpful for the longer months:

  • De-cem-ber
  • Ja-nu-a-ry
  • Sep-tem-ber

Your Quick Review Box


*** High Frequency Checklist ***
1. Capitalization: Months MUST start with a capital letter (January).
2. Prepositions: Use IN for months and seasons (in Summer).
3. Seasons: Know the difference between Spring, Summer, Autumn/Fall, and Winter.
4. Tricky Spelling: Pay extra attention to February and September.

You have mastered a huge part of high-frequency vocabulary! Keep practicing these words daily, and you will use them perfectly in your exams and everyday conversations.



End of Chapter Notes: Months & Seasons