John’s English Blog

Some English words which end in -ar have a Latin origin. They will be familiar if you speak a Latin language. Beware of false friends!

For example the English word familiar. Many English words should be familiar.

• Spanish - familiar
  
• Italian - familiare
  
• French - familier
  
• Valencian - familiar
  

Many words follow this pattern:

Altar
In the church was a stone altar with candles and a large cross.

Angular
His face was not round, it was angular.

Circular
Should I get a square coffee table or a circular one?

Complete these sentences!

1. solar panels provide electricity.
2. Bees turn nectar into honey.
3. There is a linear relationship between study and progress.
4. The sailors used stellar navigation at night.
5. The Earth’s polar ice caps are shrinking.
6. I don’t want just any book, I want a particular book.
7. Which house is yours? They all look similar.
8. The singular of ‘mice’ is ‘mouse’.
9. Russian Christmas is on 7 January, because the Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar.
10. Rooms are usually rectangular.
11. Scotland is very beautiful, it has spectacular countryside.
12. Peppa Pig is a popular cartoon.
13. The astronaut stepped onto the lunar surface.
14. Don’t be vulgar, be polite.
15. Do you want a large milkshake or a regular milkshake?
16. Bodybuilders are very muscular.
17. An exemplar is a good example of something.
18. perpendicular lines have an angle of 90 degrees.
19. Walls are often made from bricks and mortar.
20. Sand is granular.

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