Egypt
the UK
Russia
Spain
Thailand
Australia
the USA
BrazilEight countries to start with
Point to each country on a map or a flag picture as you say it, then mix them up and ask your child to point again. Two names need “the”: “the UK” (the United Kingdom) and “the USA” (the United States of America).
Two sounds surprise children: “Egypt” starts with an “ee” sound, and the “h” in “Thailand” is silent, so it starts like “tie”.
- Egypt, Russia, Spain, Thailand
- Australia, Brazil
- the UK, the USA
- Your own country: add it from the first day
“Where are you from?” with six subjects
The question always has the same shape: Where + is or are + subject + from? Use “is” with he, she and it, and “are” with you, we and they. “From” stays at the end of the question and moves in front of the country in the answer. Spoken answers use short forms: I’m, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’re, they’re.
“You” can mean one person or several, so two children asked together can answer “We’re from the UK.”
- I / you: “Where are you from?” “I’m from Egypt.”
- he: “Where is he from?” “He’s from Brazil.”
- she: “Where is she from?” “She’s from Spain.”
- it: “Where is it from?” “It’s from Thailand.”
- we: “Where are you from?” (to two people) “We’re from the UK.”
- they: “Where are they from?” “They’re from Australia.”
People and things: he, she or it
When you ask about someone by name, use “is”: “Where is Mina from?” In the answer, the name becomes “he” or “she”. Objects come from places too, and for a thing English always uses “it”, never “he” or “she”. Pointing helps: the person for he and she, the object for it. Below, two friends talk first about one of them, then about a third child, then about a postcard.
Nia Where are you from, Leo?
Leo I'm from Brazil.
Leo Where is Mina from?
Nia She's from Spain.
Nia I chose the postcard. Where is it from?
Leo It's from Thailand.
Four questions for meeting someone new
Children often ask three more questions when they meet someone. Months take “in” (“in June”) and countries take “from”. The seasons are spring, summer, autumn and winter; in American English, autumn is usually “fall”.
- “How old are you?” “I’m nine.”
- “When is your birthday?” “My birthday is in June.”
- “Where are you from?” “I’m from Brazil.”
- “What’s your favourite season?” “My favourite season is winter.”
A home game: interview and report
Put country cards or postcards face down. Each player secretly takes one and becomes a visitor from that country. Your child interviews you with the four questions, then turns to a toy or another family member and reports: “She’s from Spain. She’s nine.” The report matters most, because it makes your child switch from “I” to “he” or “she”.
For “it”, stick a country note on a few objects and ask “Where is it from?” Then swap roles.
Writing a three-sentence profile with capital letters
Once your child can say the answers, they can write them: “I’m nine. I’m from Brazil. My favourite season is winter.” Check the capitals together before reading it aloud.
- Every sentence starts with a capital letter.
- “I” is always a capital.
- Countries and months start with a capital: Spain, the UK, June.
- Seasons do not: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
These are normal at this stage. Repeat the sentence back the right way and carry on.
- “Where you are from?”: “are” comes before “you”: “Where are you from?”
- “Where is they from?”: with you, we and they it is “are”.
- “I’m from UK.”: add “the”: “I’m from the UK.”
- “He’s from Thailand.” about a postcard: things are “it”.
- “I’m Brazil.”: add “from”: “I’m from Brazil.”
- “i’m from spain.”: capitals for “I” and the country: “I’m from Spain.”
What comes next
When these questions are easy, add a hobby: “Do you like painting?” “Yes, I do.” Your child can then write a short message to a penfriend about where they are from and what they like. Later, nationality words such as Spanish give a second way to answer.