Are these sentences correct

Question

A. I am sorry I am late; I have been a little busy.
B. I haven't seen you lately.
C. I have washed my hands lately.
D. I am having difficulty solving this mathematics problem. May be it's because I have been sick lately.

Do the sentences above make sense and sounds correct?

Philip · Accepted Answer

C: use recently instead of 'lately'.
D: Maybe (one word)

Tenjing · Answer

What's the difference between 'recently' and 'lately'?

CalifJim · Answer

tenjing What's the difference between 'recently' and 'lately'?

Oof! The difference is usage because the meaning is nearly identical. And it's quite difficult to specify when only one, or only the other, or neither, or both are possible. It may be that there are a few research papers where people with advanced degrees have tried to explain it, but I'm not sure. 'lately' is closer to specifying a series of points or a period in time while 'recently' is closer to specifying just a point in time, though it can sometimes specify a period as well.

I found out recently that Pete is going to get married. (I wouldn't use 'lately' here.)
Pete has been studying more than usual lately. ('recently' might also work here.)

This explains to some extent why it sounds wrong to say I've washed my hands lately. It's a one-time action in the past, so 'recently' is better. However, you can have I haven't washed my hands lately because that's a whole period of time during which you have not washed your hands. You can also have I've been washing my hands a lot lately, because 'a lot' (and the continuous tense) signals a whole series of washings.

CJ

Tenjing · Answer

Thanks a lot, CJ. Can I say, "I have been working in this restaurant lately"?

CalifJim · Answer

tenjingI have been working in this restaurant lately.

Yes. Also, I've recently been working in this restaurant.

CJ

Tenjing · Answer

Thank you again, CJ. You are great as always. One last question from this future us soldier(going for the bct this September 4),
The sentence 'I have been working in this restaurant lately' could mean 'I am still working in the restaurant' and 'I have been working for unknown short period of time', right?

CalifJim · Answer

tenjingThe sentence 'I have been working in this restaurant lately' could mean 'I am still working in the restaurant' and 'I have been working for unknown short period of time', right?

It has both meanings at the same time, so I would put the whole thing in one set of quotes thus:

It means "I am still working in the restaurant, and I have been working there for an unknown short period of time".

(The way you wrote it makes it seem that it can have two different meanings, which is not true. It's all part of the same meaning.)

CJ

Tenjing · Answer

I mean, the sentence could mean the action started in the past and continuous up to present, right?

CalifJim · Answer

tenjing I mean the sentence could mean the action started in the past and is continuous up to present, right?

Right. Not only could it mean that, but it does mean that.

CJ

Tenjing · Answer

Sorry, my question was,
I have been working in the restaurant lately. Does it mean I started working in the restaurant some time ago and I am still working in the restaurant?

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