John’s English Blog

Many English verbs which end in -ic have a Latin origin. They will be familiar if you speak a Latin language. Beware of false friends!

For example the English word aquatic.
The dolphin is an aquatic mammal.

• Spanish - acuático
  
• Italian - acquatico
  
• French - aquatique
  
• Valencian - aquàtic
  

Many words follow this pattern:

Academic
Your academic achievements are impressive.

Alcoholic
British men consume on average three alcoholic drinks per day.

Allergic
Many people are allergic to peanuts.

Complete these sentences

1. It’s easy to make general statements, but do you have any specific recommendations?
2. The chemical factory produces toxic waste.
3. I love your new car. It’s fantastic.
4. On the telephone it’s useful to spell words using the phonetic alphabet.
5. It was ironic that the thieves stole the security cameras.
6. Compost is decomposed organic material. Compost is made with material such as leaves, shredded twigs, and kitchen scraps from plants.
7. Is your car manual or automatic?
8. Is this painting an authentic Constable?
9. Sherlock Holmes had an esoteric knowledge of tobacco ashes.
10. I like your painting. It’s very artistic.
11. I was in such a panic to get ready that I forgot my ticket.
12. She often misses classes. Her attendance is quite erratic.
13. Things are a bit chaotic at the moment, because we’ve just moved in.
14. They had a romantic candlelit dinner.
15. The scientific method is used to explain the natural world.
16. Hoover is a brand name, but we use it as a generic term for vacuum cleaners.
17. Do you use an electric razor?
18. The room has a bed and a shower. It’s basic, but it’s clean.
19. He drove fast and dangerously like a lunatic.
20. traffic in central London moves at 7.4 miles per hour.

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