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Topic: Later and Latter |
10 July 2003 |
Welcome to a confusing column that will leave you confused for another six days
if you are not already confused.
Lets have a look at words that show orders of things.
First things first, words that give order are; for example, first
and later.
First is an adjective or a noun,
meaning the beginning in a group of three or more.
For example:
(adj.)
She has completed four projects.
The first one is with her former employer.
(pronoun)
The first is also the most difficult one.
(adj.)
Her first idea was great. Her other ideas were terrible.
(pronoun)
The first of her many ideas was the best.
The word that is confusing is former.
It has the same function as an adjective or a pronoun. It means the first one in a set of two.
For example:
(adj.)
The former presentation was more interesting than the other. (There are only two presentations.)
(pronoun)
I have seen both Jane and Jo. I think the former is better-looking. (The former refers to Jane.)
Next is the word later.
Later can be used as both adjective and adverb. It is the comparative form of late.
It also refers to a time in the future.
For example:
(adj.)
We just missed the afternoon show. Would you like to see the later show?
(adverb)
He arrived later than expected.
(adverb)
I will see you later.
The word that looks similar to later is latter.
Latter is an adjective and a pronoun.
It means the second one in a set of two. It is usually used with former.
For example:
(adj.)
The latter presentation
was more interesting than the former.
I have seen both Jane and Jo. I think
the former is better-looking,
but the
(pronoun)
latter is more friendly.
Note:
First (adj., pron.)
= the beginning noun in a group of three or more.
Later (adj., adv.) = some time in the future or the comparative form of late
Former (adj., pron) = the beginning in the set of two
Latter (adj., pron) = the second in the set of two
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Exercise: First and Former, Later and Latter. |
| Directions: Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words. |
 1.I cant take your call right
now. I will call you back _______. |
| 2.After shopping around, I think I prefer the shoes in the _______ shop that we looked in. |
| 3.He made two good points. But he needed to find stronger support for the _______ one. |
| 4.The _______ son is often the most beloved and spoiled. |
| 5.I like Salman Rushdie, but I find his _______ books a bit less exciting. |
| 6.We have 2 pets, Charlie and Jerry. The _______ is a dog, and the _______ is a bird. |
| 7.This is my very _______ teddy bear. |
| 8.In _______ years of his life, George Orwell wrote the most incredible novel, 1984. |
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Answers |
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