Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[eggpea]

hi^^

electric and electrical--
r there any differences between them?

if anyone could help with this question, thanks in advance.^^

[LucentShade]

I guess English really is crazy sometimes. . .

My dictionary did not show any major differences between them. There are a few cases I can think of where one is more commonly used than the other, like electric light, electric shock, electrical problem, electrical engineer. I can't be certain; these might be different in different areas or countries. So to answer your question: in terms of grammar, there is not really a difference. However, the word "electric" can be used as slang to mean cool, exciting, exhilarating, or full of tension.

[lotus]

Hi Eggpea and LucentShade,

This took me some thought before I came up with this possibility. I believe the difference is whether or not the noun the adjective descriibes is alrieady electrical in nature. If the noun is understood to have electrical features, the adjective is "electrical". If the noun is in general not electrical in nature, the adjective is "electric".

examples:

These nouns are generally not electrical in nature;

electric guitar
electric car
electric blanket
electric train

These nouns are by-in-large understood to be electrical in nature;

electrical engineering
electrical wiring
electrical cable
electrical appliance

This interpretation is probably just a rule of thumb and not set in stone (like most of English). For example - an "electric toaster" - well, I don't know too many toasters that are not electric!


- lotus

[LucentShade]

I'd say that Lotus has presented a pretty good way of thinking about it.