Recent Usage and Combinations of \"Lately\"
Introduction to \"Lately\"
In English, \"lately\" is an adverb that indicates that something has occurred or has been done recently. It finds its roots in the Old English word \"laet\" which means \"late.\" Therefore, \"lately\" suggests that something was done later than expected, or that it was performed or occurred recently. \"Lately\" is an essential term that is used both in casual and formal settings and can be employed to describe various types of actions. In this article, we will look at the usage and combinations of \"lately.\"
Common Use of \"Lately\"
\"Lately\" can be used in a broad sense to indicate when something has occurred recently or within a short period. For instance, you can use it in a sentence like:
\"I haven't been feeling well lately.\"
Here, the word \"lately\" suggests that the speaker has been feeling unwell recently, and not for an extended period of time. Similarly, \"lately\" can be used to describe actions that have occurred recently that might affect the present.
\"Lately, I have been working on improving my communication skills.\"
The sentence indicates that the speaker has been working on communication recently and implies that the improvements made will affect their present work.
Combinations of \"Lately\"
\"Lately\" can be combined with other words to form compound adverbs that express a specific meaning. Here are some common combinations:
Lately + Been
This combination suggests that a particular action has been happening recently, and the change is noticeable. For example:
\"Lately, he has been more cooperative.\"
The sentence implies that the person was not being cooperative before but has been noticing a positive change in their attitude recently.
Lately + To Be
This combination suggests that something is typically true of late and may continue so in the future. For example:
\"She has been lately rumored to be dating a famous musician.\"
The sentence implies that the rumors about the celebrity's love life have been consistent recently and may continue in the future.
Lately + With
This combination indicates that someone has been affected recently by a particular situation. For example:
\"Lately, he has been struggling with his finances.\"
The sentence implies that the person has been having money issues recently and is struggling to find ways to resolve them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, \"lately\" is an essential term that is used to describe recent actions and events. It can be combined with other words to form compound adverbs that express more specific meanings. As a writer, it is essential to understand its usage and combinations to create more effective sentences.
