| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: Lately vs. Recently |
 |
|
He has lost his job lately.
He has lost his job recently.
The first sounds awkward to me but I can't find a good explanation as to why.
The best I could come up with was that events that happen repeatedly can use either and evens that happen once only take recently.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Daniel1981
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Before I read your last sentence with your answer I was thinking the same thing..
Although things that happene repeatedly, maybe they can use only lately and not both.. hmm. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
LAtely and Recently have similar meanings, but the usage depends on the context it is used.
While most times they are interchangeable, there are times when you cannot.
I broke my arm recently.
I broke my arm lately.
The 2nd sentence doesn't make sense. In this context, the correct usage would be recently. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lately is used in questions and negatives in the same way yet is
Have you seen John lately?
I haven't been to the pub lately
I have been skiing lately -no
Have you seen John yet?
I haven't seen John yet
I have seen John yet - no |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| I have been skiing lately -no |
Yes. Perfectly acceptable if it was a repeated action, as mentioned above. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| schwa wrote: |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| I have been skiing lately -no |
Yes. Perfectly acceptable if it was a repeated action, as mentioned above. |
I remember poking around online for the reason to this once and reading basically the same thing.
edit: Checked again and yeah, that about sums it up. Might be more specifically clarified by period of time (both) versus a specific incident (recently). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yes you're right |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| How about LATELY vs. RECENTLY vs. CURRENTLY? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| I have been skiing lately -no |
Yes. Perfectly acceptable if it was a repeated action, as mentioned above. |
I remember poking around online for the reason to this once and reading basically the same thing.
edit: Checked again and yeah, that about sums it up. Might be more specifically clarified by period of time (both) versus a specific incident (recently). |
In terms of usage, wouldn't it be modified to make it sound more natural?
Ex.
I have been skiing lately.
I have been skiing a lot lately.
I have been skiing quite a bit lately.
I know that grammatically the original is prescriptively correct, but I don't hear people speak that way...it sounds very unnatural.
The examples following, however, are quite common to my ear.
Is this just my regional context working against me? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Lately vs. Recently |
|
|
| T-J wrote: |
He has lost his job lately.
He has lost his job recently.
The first sounds awkward to me but I can't find a good explanation as to why. |
It sounds awkward because it is wrong: "lately" describes a continuous, ongoing period of time or action.
"Recently" describes a one-off event.
Also, losing ones job is not a continuous event. So use the simple past tense, not the present tense.
ie
He lost his job recently.
not
"He has lost his job recently" or "He has lost his job lately". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| "Recently" describes a one-off event. |
What about chain of of events? Like with, "___, I have been waking up earlier." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
transmogrifier
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Lately vs. Recently |
|
|
| Julius wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
He has lost his job lately.
He has lost his job recently.
The first sounds awkward to me but I can't find a good explanation as to why. |
It sounds awkward because it is wrong: "lately" describes a continuous, ongoing period of time or action.
"Recently" describes a one-off event.
Also, losing ones job is not a continuous event. So use the simple past tense, not the present tense.
ie
He lost his job recently.
not
"He has lost his job recently" or "He has lost his job lately". |
Well you can use the present perfect when describing the loss of a job ("He has lost his job" = he lost it and it has remained in that state up till now; in other words he is yet to find a new one), but you are right to say it shouldn't really be used with either recently or lately. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The Cosmic Hum wrote: |
In terms of usage, wouldn't it be modified to make it sound more natural?
Ex.
I have been skiing lately.
I have been skiing a lot lately.
I have been skiing quite a bit lately.
I know that grammatically the original is prescriptively correct, but I don't hear people speak that way...it sounds very unnatural.
The examples following, however, are quite common to my ear.
Is this just my regional context working against me? |
Oh, I agree with that. I was looking at it from a bare-bones perspective, but throwing in some context (i.e. modifiers/quantifiers) would of course make it sound more natural.
| YTMND wrote: |
| How about LATELY vs. RECENTLY vs. CURRENTLY? |
I'd say that, generally, "currently" comes with the assumption that what is being described is also taking place at the present.
Using "recently" offers more usage flexibility compared to "currently." You can say:
I have recently been looking for a job, but found one at Ding Dong Dang English.
But not:
I have currently been looking for a job, but found one at Ding Dong Dang English.
And then there's also the fact that "currently" can be used specifically for the present (I am currently listening to a CD) whereas "lately" and "recently" imply past activities. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| And then there's also the fact that "currently" can be used specifically for the present (I am currently listening to a CD) whereas "lately" and "recently" imply past activities. |
This is an older example I think, but I can relate. Usually, nowadays, we listen to one track instead of a whole CD. However, in the 90's, 80's with cassette tapes, I would listen to a whole album many times.
So, in that case, "I am currently listening to a CD" might be literally right now, but it could also be seen like the "current trend" of something (after a few weeks it will get old and I will listen to another CD).
Another example:
Bob's high school buddy: So Bob, what are your kids up to these days?
Bob: Currently, Johnny is on the swim team, and Cindy is learning the cello.
Does this mean Johnny is swimming and Cindy is practicing the cello right now? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I have currently been looking for a job, but found one at Ding Dong Dang English. |
I don't see why this is wrong. The word "but" or "and" could be used to indicate different ideas.
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE (or at least something doubtful).
"I have currently been looking for a job, but found one at Ding Dong Dang English." (You found one, BUT maybe it's not the job you want. You are still currently looking for a (better) job.)
If it sounds awkward I agree. I think we drop the "but" and start a new sentence, like, "I have currently been looking for a job. I found one at 3D English. I am not sure I will take it if offered the job."
POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
I have currently been looking for a job, and [I] found one at Ding Dong Dang English. (Indicates more that your searching will end soon or has ended). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
