Travel English: Stating where you are from

 

Welcome to the Élodie Margaux Language School.

Discover New York City and other English-speaking regions.

A cultural-tourism approach for learning English online.

 

 

 

TOPICS

 

 

 

 

• country names
• nationalities
• languages

 

BACKGROUND AND READINGS

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

READINGS

 

 

 

 

Learn more about

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KEY PHRASES

 

 

 

 

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NEW VOCABULARY DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

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VISUAL VOCABULARY

 

 

 

 

Click on the specific flag to see country text at the bottom of the image

• country names, nationalities and languages in Asia
• country names, nationalities and languages in Europe
• country names, nationalities and languages in North and Central America and the Caribbean
• country names, nationalities and languages in Latin America
• country names, nationalities and languages in Africa
• country names, nationalities and languages in the Middle East
• country names, nationalities and languages in Oceania

GRAMMAR TIPS
by Sherlock Holmes

 

 

 

 

 

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• We use a capital letter when we refer to a country (e.g., the United States), a nationality (e.g., American), a language (e.g., English) and a region (e.g., North America).
• A singular noun is used when referring to a person from the country or region: an Indonesian, a Japanese, a German, a Colombian, an Asian.
• the plural expression the … is used for the whole population of a country (e.g., the Germans) or region (e.g., Latin Americans).
• The name of a national language is commonly the same as the national adjective (e.g., Spanish).
• The singular noun is normally the same as the adjective (e.g. German), and the plural expression is the same as the adjective + -s (e.g., the Germans).
• The definite article (the) is required before the names of some countries–especially those with a ‘common noun’ (e.g., federation, islands, kingdom, republic) in the name. For example:
  – the Bahamas (‘islands’ implicit);
  – the Cayman Islands;
  – the Central African Republic;
  – the Channel Islands;
  – the Comoros;
  – the Czech Republic;
  – the Dominican Republic;
  – the Falkland Islands;
  – the Gambia;
  – the Maldives (islands implicit);
  – the Marshall Islands;
  – the Netherlands;
  – the Russian Federation (but Russia);
  – the Philippines (islands implicit);
  – the Solomon Islands;
  – the Turks and Caicos Islands;
  – the United Arab Emirates;
  – the United Kingdom;
  – the United States;
  – the Virgin Islands
• The short form of British, Brit, is often used as a noun in journalistic style and in informal situations to refer to the British people.
• The noun Briton only to refer to the ancient tribes that lived in Britain.
• Great Britain includes England, Wales and Scotland.
• the United Kingdom includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Scots is an adjective and appears in compounds such as Scotsman.
  The adjective Scotch is used to refers to food and drink from Scotland (e.g., Scotch whisky).
• We use Arabic for the language spoken in Arab countries; the normal adjective is Arab (e.g., the Arab World, the Arab Press). We use Arabian in a few fixed expressions and place names (e.g., Arabian Nights is a famous film; the Arabian Sea).
• An Aussie is slang for a person from Australia.
• A person from Denmark is called a Dane.
• The people from the Netherlands are called the Dutch.
• A person from England is also called an Englishman/Englishwoman.
• A person from Finland is also called a Finn.
• A person from Ireland is also called an Irishman/Irishwoman.
• A Kiwi is slang for a person from New Zealand.
• A person from Poland is also called a Pole.
• A person from Scotland is also called a Scot.
• A person from Spain is also called a Spaniard.
• A person from Sweden is also called a Swede.
• A person from Turkey is also called a Turk.
• A person from Wales is also called a Welshman/Welshwoman.

PRACTICE

 

 

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LINKS TO MORE RESOURCES