Basic English Course 2

Unit 3: Around the World

Learn how to talk about countries, nationalities, famous places, travel opinions, and simple comparisons using comparative and superlative language.

CountriesNationalitiesComparativesSuperlatives

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Unit Objective

By the end of this unit, students will understand how to name countries and nationalities, describe famous places, compare cities or countries, and use basic superlatives to talk about important places around the world.

01Countries and nationalitiesCountry names, nationality adjectives, and origin. 02Famous placesLandmarks, cities, nature, and travel adjectives. 03Simple comparisonsComparative adjectives and than. 04SuperlativesThe biggest, the most famous, one of the most.

Topic cluster 1

Countries, Nationalities, and Origin

Students begin with the basic words they need before describing places around the world.

Open topics

01 Country vs. nationality

What we will learn: We will learn the difference between a country name, a nationality adjective, and a sentence about origin.

Country

A country is a place.

I live in Colombia. Japan is in Asia. France is in Europe.

Nationality

A nationality describes a person, language, culture, or product.

She is Colombian. Japanese food is popular. French museums are famous.

Teacher note: At A2 level, keep the first goal simple: students should not memorize every country. They should understand the pattern and use a practical set of examples.

02 Practical country and nationality set

What we will learn: We will learn a controlled set of countries and nationality forms that students can use in travel descriptions.

South America

Colombia / Colombian

Colombia is beautiful. Colombian coffee is famous.

South America

Brazil / Brazilian

Brazil is big. Brazilian music is popular.

North America

Mexico / Mexican

Mexico is colorful. Mexican food is delicious.

North America

Canada / Canadian

Canada is cold. Canadian cities are modern.

North America

The United States / American

The United States is large. American movies are famous.

Europe

France / French

France is famous for Paris. French fashion is elegant.

Europe

Italy / Italian

Italy is old and beautiful. Italian food is popular.

Europe

Spain / Spanish

Spain is warm. Spanish cities are interesting.

Asia

Japan / Japanese

Japan is modern. Japanese technology is famous.

Asia

China / Chinese

China is very large. Chinese history is important.

03 Asking where someone is from

What we will learn: We will learn how to ask and answer about origin without confusing country and nationality.

Question

Where are you from?
Where is she from?
Where are they from?

Country answer

I am from Colombia.
She is from Japan.
They are from Brazil.

Nationality answer

I am Colombian.
She is Japanese.
They are Brazilian.

Common correction

Not: I am from Colombian.
Use: I am from Colombia or I am Colombian.

Topic cluster 2

Famous Places and Travel Descriptions

This cluster gives students the vocabulary they need before comparing places.

Open topics

04 Types of places

What we will learn: We will learn useful words for city, nature, and landmark descriptions.

City

capital

Bogotá is the capital of Colombia.

City

museum

A museum is a place for art, history, or science.

Landmark

monument

A monument is an important structure or statue.

Landmark

tower

A tower is a tall structure, like the Eiffel Tower.

Nature

beach

A beach is a place next to the sea.

Nature

mountain

A mountain is a very high natural place.

Nature

river

A river is a long body of water.

Nature

forest

A forest is a large area with many trees.

05 Describing places with adjectives

What we will learn: We will learn adjectives that make travel descriptions clear and useful.

General opinion

beautiful
amazing
interesting
famous
important

Size and age

big
small
old
modern
ancient

Weather and feeling

hot
cold
warm
quiet
crowded

Price and travel

cheap
expensive
safe
popular
touristic

Cartagena is beautiful and warm.

Tokyo is modern and crowded.

The Amazon is important and amazing.

Paris is famous, but it is expensive.

06 Famous for...

What we will learn: We will learn a simple structure for connecting a place with a famous thing.

Main structure

Place + is famous for + noun. Country + is famous for + activity. City + is famous for + landmark.

Examples

Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower. Brazil is famous for beaches and soccer. Japan is famous for technology and temples.

Topic cluster 3

Simple Comparisons

Comparatives are the new grammar foundation for talking about two places.

Open topics

07 Comparative meaning

What we will learn: We will learn how to compare two countries, cities, or places.

Two things

A comparative says that one thing has more of a quality than another thing.

A + is + comparative + than + B.

Examples

Canada is colder than Colombia. Tokyo is bigger than my city. Paris is more expensive than Bogotá.

08 Comparative forms

What we will learn: We will learn when to use -er and when to use more.

Adjective type	Rule	Examples	Sentence
Short adjective	Add -er	cold → colder small → smaller old → older	Canada is colder than Colombia.
Short adjective ending in e	Add -r	large → larger nice → nicer	Mexico City is larger than my town.
Consonant-vowel-consonant	Double the final consonant + -er	big → bigger hot → hotter	Brazil is bigger than Spain.
Long adjective	Use more + adjective	beautiful → more beautiful expensive → more expensive interesting → more interesting	Paris is more expensive than Bogotá.
Irregular adjective	Change the word	good → better bad → worse far → farther / further	This hotel is better than that hotel.

Common correction: Do not say more cold for basic short adjectives. Say colder. Do not say beautifuler. Say more beautiful.

Topic cluster 4

Superlatives for World Places

This section adapts the intermedio superlative work into an A2-friendly explanation.

Open topics

09 Comparative vs. superlative

What we will learn: We will learn the difference between comparing two things and identifying one thing at the top of a group.

Comparative

Use it for two places, people, or things.

A is bigger than B. Japan is smaller than China.

Superlative

Use it for number one inside a group.

A is the biggest in the group. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

10 Superlative forms: -est and the most

What we will learn: We will learn the main superlative rules used for travel and world descriptions.

Short adjectives

the + adjective + -est
big → the biggest
cold → the coldest
old → the oldest

Long adjectives

the most + adjective
beautiful → the most beautiful
expensive → the most expensive
interesting → the most interesting

Irregular forms

good → the best
bad → the worst
far → the farthest / the furthest

Base adjective	Comparative	Superlative	Example
big	bigger	the biggest	Brazil is one of the biggest countries in South America.
cold	colder	the coldest	Canada is one of the coldest countries in this unit.
hot	hotter	the hottest	The Sahara is one of the hottest deserts in the world.
beautiful	more beautiful	the most beautiful	Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia.
famous	more famous	the most famous	The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
good	better	the best	This is the best place for a short trip.

Adapted from Intermedio: In the intermediate course, students use superlatives with world records and measurements. In this A2 unit, the same grammar is simplified for countries, cities, landmarks, and basic travel opinions.

11 Spelling rules for short superlatives

What we will learn: We will learn spelling changes before adding -est.

Normal short adjective

Add -est.
small → the smallest
old → the oldest
cold → the coldest

Ends in e

Add only -st.
large → the largest
nice → the nicest

Consonant-vowel-consonant

Double the final consonant.
big → the biggest
hot → the hottest

Consonant + y

Change y to i + -est.
busy → the busiest
pretty → the prettiest

Do not overuse -est

Long adjectives use the most, not -est.
Not: beautifulest
Use: the most beautiful

Always use the

Superlatives normally need the.
Not: Paris is most famous city.
Use: Paris is one of the most famous cities.

12 One of the most...

What we will learn: We will learn a useful travel structure for saying that something belongs to an important group, even if it is not exactly number one.

Main structure

Subject + is + one of the most + adjective + plural noun + complement.

The noun after this expression is plural because the sentence talks about one item inside a group.

Examples

Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities in Colombia. The Amazon is one of the most important forests in the world. The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Europe.

Common correction: Use a plural noun: one of the most beautiful cities, not one of the most beautiful city.

13 In vs. of with superlatives

What we will learn: We will learn when to use in and when to use of after superlatives.

Use	Meaning	Examples
in	Use for places, areas, or groups with location.	in the world in Colombia in South America in my city
of	Use for a group, a period, or a personal experience.	of all the places of the three cities of my life of the year
Example with in	Location group	The Amazon is one of the most important forests in the world.
Example with of	Experience group	That was the best trip of my life.

14 Superlative questions

What we will learn: We will learn questions students can use to talk about places and travel opinions.

What is the most...?

What is the most beautiful city in Colombia?
What is the most famous place in France?

What is the + -est...?

What is the tallest mountain in the world?
What is the biggest city in your country?

Which place is...?

Which place is more expensive?
Which city is the most interesting?

Opinion answer

I think Cartagena is the most beautiful city.
For me, Japan is the most interesting country.

Topic cluster 5

Travel Opinions and Useful Expressions

This final cluster connects the grammar to real travel preferences.

Open topics

15 I want to visit...

What we will learn: We will learn simple travel opinion patterns without introducing a new verb tense.

Want to

I want to visit Japan.
She wants to visit Italy.
We want to visit Canada.

Would like to

I would like to go to France.
We would like to travel to Brazil.

Think / prefer

I think Spain is beautiful.
I prefer warm countries.
I don't like crowded cities.

Favorite

My favorite country is Colombia.
My favorite city is Cartagena.

16 Phrasal verbs and idioms for travel

What we will learn: We will learn travel expressions with approximate Spanish meaning, short explanation, and examples.

phrasal verb

travel around

viajar por diferentes lugares

Visit several places in one area or trip. I want to travel around Europe.

phrasal verb

go abroad

ir al extranjero

Travel to another country. She wants to go abroad next year.

phrasal verb

get around

moverse por un lugar

Move from place to place in a city or country. It is easy to get around by train.

phrasal verb

check in

registrarse

phrasal verb

check out

salir del hotel / mirar algo

Leave a hotel or look at something interesting. Let's check out the museum.

phrasal verb

take off

despegar

Use it when a plane leaves the ground. The plane takes off at 8 a.m.

phrasal verb

come back

regresar

Return to a place. I want to come back to Mexico.

idiom

travel light

viajar con poco equipaje

Travel with few things. I travel light when I visit hot countries.

idiom

hit the road

ponerse en camino

Start a trip or leave. It's early. Let's hit the road.

idiom

a change of scenery

cambiar de ambiente

Go somewhere different to feel refreshed. I need a change of scenery.

Language Model

Travel description model for reading and analysis

A: Where would you like to go?

B: I would like to visit Japan.

A: Why?

B: I think Japan is one of the most interesting countries in Asia. Tokyo is bigger than my city, and Japanese food is very popular.

A: What place would you like to see?

B: I would like to check out Tokyo and visit some famous temples.

Unit Summary

What this explanation covers

Countries

Students separate country names from nationality adjectives and use origin patterns correctly.

Places

Students describe cities, capitals, museums, monuments, beaches, mountains, rivers, and forests.

Comparatives

Students compare two places with -er than, more... than, and irregular forms such as better.

Superlatives

Students use the biggest, the most famous, the best, and one of the most... in travel contexts.

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