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Ticce Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Lately with PRESENT SIMPLE/CONTINUOUS

Is using LATELY with Present Simple/Continuous acceptable?

1) He coughs lately.
2) Recently she is studying more than usual.
3) She doesn't seem herself lately.
4) I see her a lot lately.
  

Top answer

1) He's coughing (more) lately. 2) Recently, she has been studying more than usual. 3)She doesn't seem herself lately.

— Philip

  • 1) He's coughing (more) lately.
  • 2) Recently, she has been studying more than usual.
  • 3)She doesn't seem herself lately.
  • 4) I've seen her a lot lately.
  • These are what seem most natural to me.
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5 Answers
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1) He's coughing (more) lately. 2) Recently, she has been studying more than usual. 3)She doesn't seem herself lately. 4) I've seen her a lot lately. These are what seem most natural to me. Your 1) and 4) don't seem natural to me, while the others are okay.
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Any idea why some verbs sound OK in the Present Simple while others not? I can't put my finger on it.

Strangely enough, but "She doesn't seem herself lately." is OK while "He coughs lately." is not. Does it have something to do with the nature of the verb used?

Cough VERSUS Seem?

Any idea?
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TicceI can't put my finger on it.
I think you're close, though. 'seem' is stative. 'cough' is dynamic.
TicceDoes it have something to do with the nature of the verb used?
I believe it does. Verbs with stative meanings more or less have to be in the simple tenses. Verbs with dynamic meanings are usually OK in conti
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What is the difference?

1) He's coughing (more) lately. - He has been coughing lately.
2) She doesn't seem herself lately. - She hasn't seemed herself lately.
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TicceWhat is the difference?1) He's coughing (more) lately. - He has been coughing lately.2) She doesn't seem herself lately. - She hasn't seemed herself lately.
To my ear the second of each pair suggests a longer period of time during which the situation has been observed. It's subjective. For example, I might say "doesn't seem herself" after a few days, an
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