① lately表示“最近,近來”,為副詞,常同現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)連用。
We've had a lot of rain lately. 最近雨水多。
Have you heard from her lately?你最近收到她的信了嗎?
He lately moved into a new apartment. 他不久前搬進(jìn)了一套新公寓。
She has been friendlier lately. 她近來更友好了。
His studies haven't been improving lately. 他的學(xué)業(yè)近來沒有什么進(jìn)步。
② latest表示“最近的,最新的”,為形容詞,只用作定語。
This is the latest fashion. 這是最新的式樣。
③ latter為形容詞,說明順序的前后,意為“后一半的,較后”;the former…the latter為固定搭配,意為“前者……后者”。
These birds fly to the south in the latter half of October every year. 這些鳥每年十月的后半個(gè)月飛往南方。
④ recently也表示“最近”,既可指一段時(shí)間,也可指某一時(shí)刻,而lately用來指一段時(shí)間。
Just recently I began to learn French. 我最近才開始學(xué)習(xí)法語。(不用lately)
I've been writing a paper recently/lately. 我最近在寫一篇論文。
I ran into my uncle in the street recently.
最近我在街上遇見了我叔叔。
I ran into my uncle in the street lately.