A look at Great Britain and the United Kingdom (easy level)

A LOOK AT GREAT BRITAIN AND

THE UNITED KINGDOM

A look at Great Britain and the United Kingdom


“Great Britain” is a geographical expression and the “United Kingdom” is a

political expression.

This is Great Britain. Great Britain is the name of the geographic island that is home to England, Scotland and Wales.


Pay attention: Is Great Britain the same as Britain? Sometimes people use the shorten name Britain instead of Great Britain, to mean the same thing, but really Britain only refers to England and Wales.

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The United Kingdom (UK) is the political state which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In fact, the official name of the country is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."


England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are not independent countries but the United Kingdom is.


London is not only the capital of England, but is also the capital of the United Kingdom (UK). The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. Finally, the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.


The remaining portion of the island of Ireland (that which is not the U.K.'s Northern Ireland) is an independent country called the Republic of Ireland (Eire).


The British Isles consist of the two large islands known as Great Britain and Ireland along with the many small islands nearby. The countries of the United Kingdom and Ireland occupy the British Isles, which are separated by St. George's Channel.


Is this the English flag? No, it isn't, although so many people think it is. It is in fact the Union Jack, or so its nickname. Its real name is the United Kingdom's Flag.



As you can see this flag is a combination of the flags of: England (the cross of St George), Scotland (the cross of St Andrew), and Ireland (the cross of St Patrick). Wales remains the only country not represented on the union flag.

The flags of each “nation” and country:


England Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales Ireland

the United Kingdom

What’s your nationality?


Scottish (or British)

English (or British)

Welsh (or British)

Irish (or British)

What are the national identities of the people living in Britain? Many people think that 'English' is the same as 'British'. It is not! People who are English are from the country of England. On the other hand, British people are people who live in Great Britain (Britain) and the United Kingdom (UK).


So in summary: • Great Britain = England, Scotland, and Wales • UK = England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (and the full name is the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”) • England = just the part of the island that is England


A look at Great Britain and the United Kingdom (easy level)

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