lately / so far

[ratóncolorao]

Hello,

Would you please tell me what are the differences you see in this sentence?

I have been very busy lately
I have been very busy so far

Thank you very much for your help

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

Would you please tell me what are the differences you see in this sentence?

I have been very busy lately
I have been very busy so far

Thank you very much for your help

The second sentence is unnatural though it's possible in certain circumstances.

The main difference is that "lately" means "recently". It only refers to a short period of time before the writer is writing.

"So far" means "until now" but there is no suggestion when that period of time started.

 

[ratóncolorao]

The second sentence is unnatural though it's possible in certain circumstances.

The main difference is that "lately" means "recently". It only refers to a short period of time before the writer is writing.

"So far" means "until now" but there is no suggestion when that period of time started.

Could you, please, be so kind to give me one example?
I can't find a sentence where a period of time + "so far" appear.


Thank you

 

[emsr2d2]

Could you, please, be so kind to give me one example?
I can't find a sentence where a period of time + "so far" appear.


Thank you

Well, "so far" is not a specific period of time. It refers to any length of time until now, depending on context.

I have to write a 10,000 word essay. I have only written 5,000 words so far.
There are probably millions of species of insect but only 500,000 have been discovered so far.
I should have more food. I've only eaten a slice of toast so far today!

 

[sunsunmoon]

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary[1]
so far


1 : until the present time : to this point
▪ He has written only two books so far.
◊The phrase so far, so good is used to say that something (such as a project or an activity) has proceeded well or without problems until now.
▪ “How's the work on your house going?” “There's a lot more to do, but so far, so good.”


2 : to a certain point, degree, or distance
▪ Intelligence will only take you so far without effort. [=intelligence by itself is not enough for success; effort is also needed]


​

The phrase "so far" doesn't always mean either "until the present time : to this point" or "to a certain point, degree, or distance."
▪ She doesn't like being so far (away) from home.

 

[Raymott]

Could you, please, be so kind to give me one example?
I can't find a sentence where a period of time + "so far" appear.

Thank you

"I promised my wife we'd be together forever. We've managed 35 years so far."
"I have to do an hour's piano practice every day. I can't go out because I've only done 20 minutes so far."