TOP 228: Recently vs Lately

Hey there! This is TOP episode 228. Recently vs Lately

Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak, I’m a teacher empowering English learners to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. Join my TOPeople newsletter for weekly motivation and free materials. Enjoy your journey to fluency! 

Hey there! I’m glad you’re today with me. Today we’re talking about two words that have the same meaning however behave differently. So, that’s the main part of this episode, but first let me tell you this:

Live training alert! I’m going to give you a free training on grammar, in particular: tenses. I’ll be giving not just one but a 3-day free training on grammar. Past, present and future. 3-day tenses masterclass! Sign up now! Go to teacherola.com/webinar. It’s on the 22, 23, 24 January 2024. And now let’s get back to the episode.

Today, let’s dive into the fascinating world of adverbs and unravel the subtle differences between “recently” and “lately.” 

Let’s start with the building blocks. “Recently” is a combo of the adjective “recent” and the suffix, the ending “ly”. On the flip side, “lately” is made with “late” and “ly,” though it’s not as directly linked to “late” as you might think. That’s the first difference right here. Recently is linked to “recent” whereas “lately” is not directly related to “late”. 

Now that we’ve met our words, what do the dictionaries say? “Recently” is for things that happened “not long ago.” “Lately” is its close cousin, defined as “recently or in the recent past.” Essentially, they’re singing the same tune. In other words the meaning is the same.

Enough with the theory – let’s put these words into action! “Recently” takes the spotlight when talking about any singular near-past event, like bumping into an old friend: “I saw him recently.” or ”Have you seen him recently”?

Now, here comes “lately,” stealing the scene for recurring events. “I have been really busy lately.” So here’s the main difference in use. Use “recently” for singular or repeated action but use “lately” for repeated actions. Ok? So two examples:

“I have been really busy recently” or “I have been really busy lately”. I have been busy – that means there have been many things, not just one. 

BUT: “I’ve bought a new dress recently.” We don’t say: “I’ve bought a new dress lately.” Ok? “I’ve bought a new dress”, it’s one event not a recurring event. 

“Lately” – many events

“Recenly” – single event or many events.

“Lately” loves perfect tenses, “I have been really busy lately”.

On the other hand, “recently” is a bit of a chameleon. It can go with perfect or simple tenses. Whether you say, “I saw him recently” or “I have seen him recently,” it still works.

Lastly, let’s talk mood – grammatical mood, that is! “Recently” is your go-to for affirmative, negative, and questions in the singular near-past. 

I saw him recently.

Have you seen him recently? 

I haven’t seen him recently.

It covers all bases.

Now, “lately” isn’t always the star of the show in affirmative statements, but it does work with negatives and questions. It can form affirmative sentences but less often than ‘recently’.

Have you seen him lately?  

I haven’t seen him lately. 

There you have it, “recently” vs “lately.” Now you can use these words with confidence in your everyday language. But before you go to do just that, let’s practice together. Listen and repeat the sentences:

I haven’t been sleeping well lately.

Have you been practicing the guitar lately?

I have recently discovered a passion for cooking.

I have been binge-watching my favorite TV series lately.

I recently watched an inspiring documentary.

I’ve been going to the gym more often lately.

I completed a challenging project recently.

Have you submitted your report recently?

I haven’t seen my neighbors recently.

Have you been feeling stressed lately?

Reach out to me on Instagram, or Facebook, if you want to say hello, it’ll be very nice of you. Now, do not forget to complete the Worksheet for this episode. It’s available at teacherola.com/228. 

Sign up for a 3-day free training, 3-day tenses masterclass where you’ll learn how to choose tenses properly! Sign up at teacherola.com/webinar. 

Thank you so much for being here today, thank yourself for showing up. Every time you do something for your English it builds up your confidence! I’ll be back soon, and you stay fearless, say it out loud and take care! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you were listening to Teacher Ola Podcast. Bye for now!