If I had a chance / If I have a chance

[optimistic pessimist]

Hi all,
When I write a passage about a foreign country I want to live in, which do you think is better as the first sentence?

1. If I had a chance to live in a foreign country, I would like to live in Britain.
2. If I have a chance to live in a foreign country, I want to live in Britain.

OP

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

The first is just idle speculation. The second suggests you think it might actually happen.

Google tells me that Britain can be an informal way of saying Great Britain but, strictly speaking, means England and Wales.

Would anyone care to confirm or deny?

 

[emsr2d2]

Britain = England and Wales
Great Britain = England, Scotland and Wales
United Kingdom = Great Britain and Northern Ireland

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It pays to ask a pro!

 

[Tarheel]

It's too complicated! No wonder I can't keep it straight!
;-)

 

[jutfrank]

Britain = England and Wales

Hmm. At the risk of greatly sidetracking the thread, I'd take issue with this bit.

The word Britain is far more commonly used a) synonymously with the UK (political sense) and b) synonymously with Great Britain (geographic sense), depending on the genre of discourse.

Britain has left the European Union. (political discourse)
The Romans invaded Britain in the first century. (historical discourse)

 

[jutfrank]

Great Britain = England, Scotland and Wales

Okay, while we're on the subject, I'd take issue with this too. :-D

Great Britain refers to the island that these countries occupy, not to the countries themselves. I realise that amounts more or less to the same thing at this point in history, but it isn't quite the same, in an important sense. Smaller peripheral islands (such as The Isle of Wight) are obviously not part of Great Britain but are considered part of their respective country.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My brilliant Irish American wife says you're all right.

And now she wants to know about Britannia . . . . and Magna Britannia . . . .

There. We've done it. Hijacked. . . .

 

[Rover_KE]

Topic drift.

Thread closed.