Commonwealth meaning in English
Learn how to use Commonwealth correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
The Commonwealth (of Nations): The group of countries that used to be British colonies
Commonwealth countries includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, etc...
Examples
- "Jeff (Australia) : Well, Brent, Australia is a Commonwealth nation, although we're independent."
- "New Zealand is also a Commonwealth country."
Exercise 1
Rob and Jeff have just told us about their countries. Fill in the fact sheet according to what they've said!
This country is composed of a North Island and a South Island:
This country is a Commonwealth country:
Country
New Zealand
Capital city
Location
Estimated Population
Country
Australia
Capital city
Location
Pacific Ocean
Estimated Population
This country is composed of a North Island and a South Island:
This country is a Commonwealth country:
Rob and Jeff have just told us about their countries. Fill in the fact sheet according to what they've said!
This country is composed of a North Island and a South Island: New Zealand 6
This country is a Commonwealth country: Both New Zealand and Australia 7
Country
New Zealand
Capital city
Wellington 1
Location
off the coast of Australia 2
Estimated Population
4.3 million 3
Country
Australia
Capital city
Canberra 4
Location
Pacific Ocean
Estimated Population
22 million 5
This country is composed of a North Island and a South Island: New Zealand 6
This country is a Commonwealth country: Both New Zealand and Australia 7
1 Wellington: This is correct. According to Rob, and most geographic authorities, Wellington is the capital of New Zealand! Did you know that Beef Wellington is a famous type of dish? You do now!
1 Auckland: This is incorrect. Although Rob is from Auckland, he tells us (correctly) that Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.
1 Canberra: This is incorrect. Canberra is the capital of Australia, not New Zealand.
1 Brisbane: This is incorrect. Although Jeff is from Brisbane, Brisbane is not the capital of New Zealand or Australia.
2 off the coast of Australia: This is correct. Rob tells Brent (correctly) that New Zealand is located "2000 kilometers off the coast" of Australia. The phrase "off the coast" describes a place, generally an island, in relation to another land mass, sometimes called the "mainland". For example: Hawaii is an island located off (of) the California coast.
2 on the coast of Australia: This is incorrect. "On the coast" and "off the coast" have different meanings. A city "on the coast of California" is located within California (and borders the ocean), however a city located "off the coast of California" is generally an island, in other words it is not "landlocked" to the state!
2 in the coat of an Ostrich: This is incorrect. Good guess though.
3 4.3 million: This is correct. Rob tells Brent Vanderplop that the population of New Zealand is around 4.3 million people (4,300,000).
3 2 million: This is incorrect.
3 22 million: This is incorrect. 22 million is the population of Australia, not New Zealand!
4 Canberra: According to Jeff, and most geographic authorities, Canberra is the capital of Australia! Did you know that Canberra is the only source of Canberries in the world? I'm just kidding, there's no such thing as Canberries, although I imagine they would be delicious.
4 Brisbane: This is incorrect. Although Jeff is from Brisbane, Brisbane is not the capital of New Zealand or Australia.
4 Auckland: This is incorrect. Although Rob is from Auckland, he tells us (correctly) that Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, not the capital of Australia!
4 Wellington: This is incorrect. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand!
5 22 million: This is correct. Jeff tells Brent Vanderplop that the population of Australia is around 22 million people (22,000,000).
5 20 million: This is incorrect.
5 4.3 million: This is incorrect. 4.3 million is the population of New Zealand, not Australia!
6 New Zealand: This is correct. Rob tells Brent Vanderplop that New Zealand "has a north island and a south island", in other words, the country is composed of two islands. If a country is "composed (of 2 islands)", the country "consists of" or "is made up of" 2 islands!
6 Australia: This is incorrect. Although strictly speaking, the Island of Tasmania (famous for its devils) lies off of the southern coast of Australia, only the country of New Zealand is truly composed of two islands, North and South!
6 Both New Zealand and Australia: This is incorrect.
6 Neither New Zealand or Australia: This is incorrect.
7 Both New Zealand and Australia: This is correct. Both Jeff and Rob inform Brent Vanderplop that their respective countries are "Commonwealth countries", ie countries under the protection of the King (or Queen) of England, although they are both independently-run democracies. Other Commonwealth countries: Canada, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, etc.
7 Neither New Zealand or Australia: This is incorrect. Both New Zealand and Australia are Commonwealth countries!
7 New Zealand: This is incorrect. Although New Zealand is a Commonwealth country, so is Australia!
7 Australia: This is incorrect. Although Australia is a Commonwealth country, so is New Zealand!
Exercise 2
How much do you know about the Queen and Christmas?
The Queen's official home, or residence, is .
The Queen's speech is a message .
The songs sung at Christmas are called Christmas .
In Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the day after Christmas is called .
The Queen's official home, or residence, is .
The Queen's speech is a message .
The songs sung at Christmas are called Christmas .
In Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the day after Christmas is called .
How much do you know about the Queen and Christmas?
The Queen's official home, or residence, is Buckingham Palace 1.
The Queen's speech is a message for citizens of Britain and the Commonwealth 2.
The songs sung at Christmas are called Christmas carols 3.
In Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day 4.
The Queen's official home, or residence, is Buckingham Palace 1.
The Queen's speech is a message for citizens of Britain and the Commonwealth 2.
The songs sung at Christmas are called Christmas carols 3.
In Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day 4.
1 Buckingham Palace: This is the right answer. The Queen officially resides at Buckingham Palace: a rather attractive and large house in central London.
1 Big Ben: This isn't the best choice: Big Ben is the name given to a bell in the tower of the Houses of Parliament. The Queen doesn't live there.
1 The Ministry of Sound: This isn't the best choice: the Ministry of Sound is a dance music club in South London, but the Queen doesn't live there.
2 for citizens of Britain and the Commonwealth: This is the correct choice here. The Queen delivers her Christmas message or speech on December 25th, directed at British subjects and people living in Commonwealth countries. "The Commonwealth" is a group made up mostly of nations which are former British colonies. Commonwealth nations include India, Jamaica, Kenya, and Australia.
2 delivered by the British Prime Minister: This isn't the right choice. The Queen's speech, as its name suggests, is delivered by the Queen!
2 in a bottle: The Queen's speech, as its name suggests, is delivered by the Queen! A message in a bottle might be useful on a desert island, but it's not the best choice here.
3 carols: "Carols" is the best choice here. Christmas carols are songs sung at Christmas time, like "Jingle Bells", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", and "O Christmas Tree".
3 jennys: Sorry, but there's no such thing as a "Christmas jenny". Unless you're thinking of my friend Jenny on December 25th.
3 lauras: Sorry, but there's no such thing as a "Christmas laura". Unless you're thinking of my friend Laura on December 25th.
4 Boxing Day: "Boxing Day" is the right answer. In many English-speaking countries, December 26th is a public holiday, meaning that you don't have to go to work! The origins of the name "Boxing Day" are uncertain, but it's probably related to putting money in a box for charity. Most people eat cold turkey and watch hours of television on Boxing Day.
4 Thanksgiving Day: This isn't the best choice. Thanksgiving is an American celebration which commemorates a shared meal between Native Americans and European settlers. In the US, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
4 Hangover Day: Although lots of people are hungover on December 26th, this isn't the name given to that day. When you "have a hangover" or "are hungover", it means that you drank too much alcohol the night before. Hic!
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