latter
part of speech
adjective (latter); pronoun-like noun (the latter)
meaning for a pupil
1) The latter means the second of two things or people just mentioned: "tea or coffee? I'll have the latter" means coffee. tree →
2) Latter means near the end of a time: "the latter part of the film". tree →
sense in the lessons
In formal writing and exam language, "the former … the latter" is used to point back to two things without repeating them. In reading, it helps the reader know which one is meant. Phrases: the latter, the former and the latter, the latter part, the latter half.
examples
- Sam and Ben both play, but the latter is better at football. tree →
- Would you like apples or pears? The latter, please. tree →
- In the latter part of the year, the days get shorter. tree →
- Of cats and dogs, I prefer the latter. tree →
- The former is red and the latter is blue. tree →
- She read two books and liked the latter more. tree →
- This latter would be useful when he began housekeeping. tree →
note
The latter = the second of two; the former = the first of two. Use "the last" if there are more than two. Do not confuse latter with "later" (after some time) or "ladder" (for climbing).
In the corpora
- If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end.
- In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
- Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
- And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «latter» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.