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ESL forum > Ask for help > Asking and answering about one ´s nationality    

Asking and answering about one ´s nationality



lurdesilva
Portugal

Asking and answering about one ´s nationality
 
Hi there!
I wonder if any of the native speaker members could help me with this question:
 
What ´s your nationality?
a) I am French.
b) My nationality is French.
 
As a student I learned that the correct answer is a) and as a teacher that ´s the one I always teach my students, but is b) possible, too? If so, is there any difference in meaning?
 
Thanks in advance!

14 Oct 2012      





cunliffe
United Kingdom

A) is the right response to the question. If nationality needs emphasising, you are more likely to say, ´I ´m a French national� than ´my nationality is French. � 

14 Oct 2012     



pedromon02
Spain

Just two different ways of saying the same without change of meaning.

14 Oct 2012     



yanogator
United States

"My nationality is French" is grammatically correct, but sound very stiff, beyond formal. It doesn ´t sound natural at all.
 
Bruce

14 Oct 2012     



lurdesilva
Portugal

Thanks a lot for your help! I just wanted to be sure I was right.
Wish you all a great week!

14 Oct 2012     



goospanish
Mexico

To me you would have your back up if you said  "My nationality is French"  you would be mad.

14 Oct 2012     



Darlamama
France

I would never say "my nationality is French" and I tell my students not to use it.
I always say "I am French", and it is exactly the same in French : "je suis française"

14 Oct 2012     



gulsahbilgeteacher
Turkey

I ´m not a native speaker but I ´m sure the 1st one is much better. Actually, it ´s the best !!! The other one is grammatically ok, but certainly not suitable for daily use and far away from being practical. Who knows, may be it ´s prefered by the royal family :)) 

16 Oct 2012