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Dublinfan Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
The problems with the ending -ic or - ical...
Good evening,
as a non-native English-teacher I am facing a problem here regarding the endings of
adjectives/adverbs.
I have always been wondering why for example I have to say "biological" instead of "biologic".
Example: biological food
And it is pretty much the same with everything revolving around the economy:
economic situation (why not economical)
As for the latter I do have a guess though: Is it that economic really relates to the economy, whereas
economical means that I lead a kind of modest lifestyle without spending too much money.
However, the biologic/al thing still doesn't seem to make sense to me, as does every other
similar word that ends on -ic or ical... (Can't think of other examples right now, I am afraid - but I
know they are out there... ;-)
I would highly appreciate it if you could help me !
Thanks very much
Bless
:-)
as a non-native English-teacher I am facing a problem here regarding the endings of
adjectives/adverbs.
I have always been wondering why for example I have to say "biological" instead of "biologic".
Example: biological food
And it is pretty much the same with everything revolving around the economy:
economic situation (why not economical)
As for the latter I do have a guess though: Is it that economic really relates to the economy, whereas
economical means that I lead a kind of modest lifestyle without spending too much money.
However, the biologic/al thing still doesn't seem to make sense to me, as does every other
similar word that ends on -ic or ical... (Can't think of other examples right now, I am afraid - but I
know they are out there... ;-)
I would highly appreciate it if you could help me !
Thanks very much
Bless
:-)
Top answer
" However, I believe that the phrase "biologic food" may acceptable. As I understand it, the word "biologic" is a "more scientific" way of saying "biological," and so "biologic food" might be found in, say, a scientific paper about the differences between "natural (biologic) food," like carrots, and "synthetic food," like textured soy protein. " However, I believe that "economical" might possibly still be used in the context of economics if you're trying for some effect.
- " However, I believe that the phrase "biologic food" may acceptable.
- As I understand it, the word "biologic" is a "more scientific" way of saying "biological," and so "biologic food" might be found in, say, a scientific paper about the differences between "natural (biologic) food," like carrots, and "synthetic food," like textured soy protein.
- " However, I believe that "economical" might possibly still be used in the context of economics if you're trying for some effect.
- "
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4 Answers
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There is no such phrase as "biological food." Food is a biological sustance and so saying "biological food" is like saying "foodish food." However, I believe that the phrase "biologic food" may acceptable. As I understand it, the word "biologic" is a "more scientific" way of saying "biological," and so "biologic food" might be found in, say, a scientific paper about the differences between "n
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DublinfanHowever, the biologic/al thing still doesn't seem to make sense to me, as does every otherI don't believe there is a logical pattern to these. Each form, whether in -ic or -ical, acquires its meaning in a rather random way over the course of history.
similar word that ends on -ic or ical...
CJ
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Hi everyone and thanks very much for all your answers ! :-)
The reason why I asked was basically because I found the following exercise in one of my
books, and found the whole thing rather confusing. There are two letters - one contains mistakes, the other
is the corrected version of it, and it is the students' task to spot the mistakes and explain why they are
The reason why I asked was basically because I found the following exercise in one of my
books, and found the whole thing rather confusing. There are two letters - one contains mistakes, the other
is the corrected version of it, and it is the students' task to spot the mistakes and explain why they are
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