What’s the correct use of “last/late/latter/latter” in time expressions?
I always get these adjectives and determiners confused as regards their use and shades of meaning. Let's take a structure meaning “in the last few years”. Would it be right to use any of the following possibilities for conveying that meaning?
With LAST: In the/these LAST years.
With LATE: In the/these LATE years. Is this a synonym for the previous sentence or even correct? Does it convey the same meaning? What about LATER?
With LATTER: In the/these LATTER years. ¿?¿?
I hope someone can clarify this question to me, and forgive me if something about this is too obvious: I’m a Spanish speaker trying to figure out some nuances of grammar and meaning in English that are answered by consulting English or bilingual dictionaries, which have too many options, or by automatic machine translations, which erase all trace of fine nuance.
adjectives determiners noun-phrases degree-of-comparison
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
add a comment |
I always get these adjectives and determiners confused as regards their use and shades of meaning. Let's take a structure meaning “in the last few years”. Would it be right to use any of the following possibilities for conveying that meaning?
With LAST: In the/these LAST years.
With LATE: In the/these LATE years. Is this a synonym for the previous sentence or even correct? Does it convey the same meaning? What about LATER?
With LATTER: In the/these LATTER years. ¿?¿?
I hope someone can clarify this question to me, and forgive me if something about this is too obvious: I’m a Spanish speaker trying to figure out some nuances of grammar and meaning in English that are answered by consulting English or bilingual dictionaries, which have too many options, or by automatic machine translations, which erase all trace of fine nuance.
adjectives determiners noun-phrases degree-of-comparison
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07
add a comment |
I always get these adjectives and determiners confused as regards their use and shades of meaning. Let's take a structure meaning “in the last few years”. Would it be right to use any of the following possibilities for conveying that meaning?
With LAST: In the/these LAST years.
With LATE: In the/these LATE years. Is this a synonym for the previous sentence or even correct? Does it convey the same meaning? What about LATER?
With LATTER: In the/these LATTER years. ¿?¿?
I hope someone can clarify this question to me, and forgive me if something about this is too obvious: I’m a Spanish speaker trying to figure out some nuances of grammar and meaning in English that are answered by consulting English or bilingual dictionaries, which have too many options, or by automatic machine translations, which erase all trace of fine nuance.
adjectives determiners noun-phrases degree-of-comparison
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
I always get these adjectives and determiners confused as regards their use and shades of meaning. Let's take a structure meaning “in the last few years”. Would it be right to use any of the following possibilities for conveying that meaning?
With LAST: In the/these LAST years.
With LATE: In the/these LATE years. Is this a synonym for the previous sentence or even correct? Does it convey the same meaning? What about LATER?
With LATTER: In the/these LATTER years. ¿?¿?
I hope someone can clarify this question to me, and forgive me if something about this is too obvious: I’m a Spanish speaker trying to figure out some nuances of grammar and meaning in English that are answered by consulting English or bilingual dictionaries, which have too many options, or by automatic machine translations, which erase all trace of fine nuance.
adjectives determiners noun-phrases degree-of-comparison
adjectives determiners noun-phrases degree-of-comparison
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
edited Mar 25 at 14:06
tchrist♦
108k28290463
108k28290463
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
asked Mar 21 at 0:05
Gino C
211
211
What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07
add a comment |
What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07
What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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votes
The term late is an adjective and has got two forms in terms of "time and order"
Late (time) –>later –>latest
Late (order) –>latter –>last
When it is a matter of time it suggests the point in time e.g.,
“The latest discoveries (the most recent discoveries) of genome has startled the world” as compared to "later" (before the latest discoveries) “…in the same domain, nonetheless, research started "late" in the 19th century.”
When it is a matter of order it suggests the position e.g.,
“George had a heated argument with Smith which resulted in physical clash, but latter (Smith) ran off in last”
Hope it will help you
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
All quite good until the last example,but latter (Smith) ran off in lastis confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized
– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The term late is an adjective and has got two forms in terms of "time and order"
Late (time) –>later –>latest
Late (order) –>latter –>last
When it is a matter of time it suggests the point in time e.g.,
“The latest discoveries (the most recent discoveries) of genome has startled the world” as compared to "later" (before the latest discoveries) “…in the same domain, nonetheless, research started "late" in the 19th century.”
When it is a matter of order it suggests the position e.g.,
“George had a heated argument with Smith which resulted in physical clash, but latter (Smith) ran off in last”
Hope it will help you
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
All quite good until the last example,but latter (Smith) ran off in lastis confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized
– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
add a comment |
The term late is an adjective and has got two forms in terms of "time and order"
Late (time) –>later –>latest
Late (order) –>latter –>last
When it is a matter of time it suggests the point in time e.g.,
“The latest discoveries (the most recent discoveries) of genome has startled the world” as compared to "later" (before the latest discoveries) “…in the same domain, nonetheless, research started "late" in the 19th century.”
When it is a matter of order it suggests the position e.g.,
“George had a heated argument with Smith which resulted in physical clash, but latter (Smith) ran off in last”
Hope it will help you
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
All quite good until the last example,but latter (Smith) ran off in lastis confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized
– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
add a comment |
The term late is an adjective and has got two forms in terms of "time and order"
Late (time) –>later –>latest
Late (order) –>latter –>last
When it is a matter of time it suggests the point in time e.g.,
“The latest discoveries (the most recent discoveries) of genome has startled the world” as compared to "later" (before the latest discoveries) “…in the same domain, nonetheless, research started "late" in the 19th century.”
When it is a matter of order it suggests the position e.g.,
“George had a heated argument with Smith which resulted in physical clash, but latter (Smith) ran off in last”
Hope it will help you
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The term late is an adjective and has got two forms in terms of "time and order"
Late (time) –>later –>latest
Late (order) –>latter –>last
When it is a matter of time it suggests the point in time e.g.,
“The latest discoveries (the most recent discoveries) of genome has startled the world” as compared to "later" (before the latest discoveries) “…in the same domain, nonetheless, research started "late" in the 19th century.”
When it is a matter of order it suggests the position e.g.,
“George had a heated argument with Smith which resulted in physical clash, but latter (Smith) ran off in last”
Hope it will help you
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
61.7k55217455
61.7k55217455
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
answered 2 days ago
Saifullah
113
113
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Saifullah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
All quite good until the last example,but latter (Smith) ran off in lastis confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized
– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
add a comment |
All quite good until the last example,but latter (Smith) ran off in lastis confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized
– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
All quite good until the last example,
but latter (Smith) ran off in last is confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
All quite good until the last example,
but latter (Smith) ran off in last is confusing. N.B late, latter, time, order should not be capitalized– Mari-Lou A
2 days ago
add a comment |
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What research can you show ther, please, Gino? Did you notice, none of the examples you posted was a sentence?
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 4 at 21:25
My research was made through a couple of dictionaries which weren't able to clarify my doubt, that's why I come here asking. And yes, I can tell a sentence from a different structure (prepositional phrases here), but I didn't know I am expected to write sentences in order to ask something ¿?¿? And actually that was not even my original question, since it was edited by someone and the last part is not even something I wanted to say.
– Gino C
Apr 7 at 0:40
Sorry, Gino. The idea is not that state some research was done but that you show your research, and why it left things unanswered. I'm sorry someone changed your Question. Did you have an opportunity to mention that? Did anyone else have any means of knowing that? Either way, if you’d provided examples of complete sentences, wouldn’t everyone be sure what you were talking about? More…
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:06
“With LAST : In the/these LAST years” is a fragment such as yes, you might find in a dictionary. It isn’t a complete part of anything useful, such as you might discuss “live” with a "real" person in any language. It’s also not comparable to the original example, but it’s very hard to discuss any details in the format you chose, and would be much easier if you’d provided either a complete sentence, or your original research, let alone both.
– Robbie Goodwin
Apr 7 at 19:07