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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > help wanted
help wanted
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-eva
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help wanted
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Is this possible?
I �ve been to Egypt lately. My teacher �s book key says it isn �t. What do you think? Is it maybe because lately shows a continuous aspect? That �s the only reason that springs to mind.
thanks a lot in advance
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17 Nov 2009
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RabbitWho
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Yeah you �re right.
I �ve been going to Egypt a lot lately. I �ve been to Egypt recently.
Lately is for things going on "in this time" since the recent past. |
17 Nov 2009
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alien boy
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Interestingly, all the formal definitions of �lately � I �ve seen list �recently � as a synonym...
so (even according to Swann �s �Practical English Usage �) they are virtually interchangeable!
Which textbook are you using? Is it based on Standard American or Standard British English?
to quote from Swann directly:
The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late; lately means �recently �. Compare:
I hate arriving late. I haven �t been to the theatre much lately.
5 time expressions: recently, lately, this week,
We often use the present perfect progressive with words that refer to a period of time continuing up to now, like recently, lately, this week, since January, for the last three days.
The firm has been losing money recently.
John �s been walking in Scotland all this week.
I �ve been doing a new job since January.
It �s been raining for the last three days.
I �d read �I �ve been to Egypt lately � as being a grammatically possible but not commonly used expression in English.
More when I get up in the morning (maybe)
Regards,
AB
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17 Nov 2009
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