Recent Usage and Collocations of \"Lately\"
Lately is an adverb that is commonly used in English to refer to an action or occurrence that happened in the recent past. It is an essential word in modern-day speech and writing, and its flexible nature allows for it to be used in a wide range of contexts.
Collocations with \"Lately\"
One of the essential aspects of using \"lately\" correctly is understanding its common collocations. Here are some of the most common ways \"lately\" is used in English:
1. Lately + Present Perfect Tense
\"Lately\" is often used with present perfect tense to describe recent events or actions that are still ongoing or have just finished. For instance, \"I have been feeling unwell lately\" or \"I haven't been sleeping well lately.\"
2. Lately + Gerund
\"Lately\" can also be used with gerunds to describe an action that has been happening frequently in the recent past. For example, \"I have been exercising lately\" or \"She has been painting a lot lately.\"
3. Lately + Adjective or Adjective Phrase
\"Lately\" can also be used with adjectives or adjective phrases to describe a recent change or development. For example, \"She has been feeling more confident lately\" or \"The weather has been getting warmer lately.\"
Examples of Using \"Lately\" in Context
Here are some examples of how \"lately\" is used in everyday language:
1. In Conversations:
- \"What have you been up to lately?\"
- \"Lately, I've been getting really interested in learning a new language.\"
2. In Business Writing:
- \"Lately, we have noticed an increase in sales.\"
- \"We have been receiving many complaints lately about our customer service.\"
3. In Academic Writing:
- \"Lately, there has been much debate about the impact of social media on society.\"
- \"Lately, researchers have been investigating the benefits of mindfulness meditation.\"
Conclusion
\"Lately\" is a flexible and dynamic word in English that is used to describe recent actions, developments or changes. It is vital to understand its common collocations to use it correctly in context. Its widespread usage makes it a vital word to know and use in both speech and writing.
