Lesson 1: Country, Nationality and Language

When learning English, it’s essential to know how to talk about different countries, nationalities, and languages. This vocabulary helps in conversations about travel, culture, and international communication.

Below, you’ll find a helpful table that organizes this information clearly.

*the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland)

How to Use these Words in Sentences:

• I am from Italy. I am Italian. I speak Italian.
• She is from Japan. She is Japanese. She speaks Japanese.
• They are from Brazil. They are Brazilian. They speak Portuguese.

Tip: Some nationalities end in -ian (Brazilian, Italian), while others end in -ese (Chinese, Japanese). Pay attention to these patterns to learn them faster!

Parts of the World

The continents of the world are:

• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• North America
• South America
• Australia (Australia and New Zealand)
• Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland)

We also use these terms for different parts of the world:

• the Middle East (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia)
• the Far East (e.g. Thailand, Japan)
• the Carribean (e.g. Jamaica, Barbados)
• Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland)

The People

For nationalities such as Brazilians, Russians, Thais, and Israelis, we can use the plural form directly (e.g., ‘Brazilians are known for their festivals’). For others like the British, the French, the Swiss, and the Japanese, we use ‘the’ before the adjective to refer to the people collectively (e.g., ‘The British have a rich cultural history’). Additionally, with all nationalities, we can use the word ‘people’ to describe them, such as ‘Brazilian people,’ ‘British people,’ or ‘Italian people.’

Explanation:

• Plural Forms: Nationalities ending in -an, -ian, or -i typically form their plural by adding -s (e.g., Brazilians, Russians, Israelis). ​
• Using “the” with Adjectives: For nationalities ending in -sh, -ch, -ese, or -ss, we use “the” before the adjective to refer to the people collectively (e.g., the British, the French, the Swiss, the Japanese).
• Using “People”: It’s common and correct to use “people” after the nationality adjective to refer to individuals from that country (e.g., Brazilian people, British people, Italian people).​

This structure ensures clarity and correctness when referring to people from different nationalities.