COMIC, COMICAL

COMIC, COMICAL

Comic is used to describe things which are intended to be funny.

When comic has this meaning, it can only be used in front of a noun.

1. She was glad it was a comic film. She had seen it before.
2. Tim had nearly had a commission to illustrate a comic cookery book.

Both comic and comical can be used to describe something that is amusing and makes you want to laugh, usually because it is slightly silly. They can come either in front of a noun or after a verb such as ‘be’ or ‘look’.

3. Her eyes rolled up in a blend of comic disgust, resignation and tolerance.
4. She would look up with the most comical expression.
5. Brooks’s attention to detail can occasionally be comic.
6. It was almost comical to see the conflicting emotions flit across Frank’s face.

GRAMMAR

Comic is also a noun. A comic is an entertainer who tells jokes to make people laugh.

7. When the comic comes on they’ll all laugh.

A comic is also a magazine, usually for children, that contains stories told in pictures.

8. He saw me reading a comic.