下面是《英语世界》1987年第4期第227条答问：
“问:《中高级英语考试》, p.320 对 lately 与 recently 的解释如下: lately(最近, 不久前, 指过去时间的一点) 与 recently(近来, 最近, 指过去时间的某一点以来, 常用于否定句与疑问句)。是否可以这样理解: lately 与 recently 都用于完成时句中, recently 用于肯定句; 而 lately 用于否定句或疑问句。
▲答:汉语“最近”不分肯定句,否定句;而英语 recently 则限用于肯定句中,lately 用于否定句中,不能代之以 recently。下面四类句型都要用 lately:(1) I have not seen him lately. not = negative.(2) Have you seen him lately? question = 50% negative.(3) I saw him only lately. (= I did not see him until lately) only = hidden negative. 最近 = 不更早。(4) I saw him as lately as a few days ago. 几天前的最近 = 并非早些时候。以上各句选 lately 而不用 recently,说明英语重形式,汉语“最近”可以通用,这就说明汉语的优点在于简便,何必多此一个形式。”
我对问者和答者的说法抱有怀疑态度。recently 真的不能用于否定句吗？
我国出版的其他语法著作和辞书(如《最新高级英汉词典》, p. 625)也大都是这么说的。但是, 现代英语的实际使用情况并非如此: lately 不仅用于否定句中, 亦可用于肯定句中; recently 不仅用于肯定句中, 亦可用于否定句中:
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His visits used to be rare, but he has been here quite a lot. (CGEL) 过去他很少来这里,但是近来他常常到这里来。
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I perceive that you have been unwell lately. (Doyle) 我看出你最近不大健康。
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Here is a little song written lately. (Yeats) 这是最近写出的一首小曲。
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She had shown lately a kind of warming sympathy. 她近来曾表现出了一种温馨的同情。（《英汉百科翻译大词典》）
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He has been friendlier lately. (EDC) 他近来更友好了。
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He lately moved into a new apartment. (EDC) 不久前他搬进了一套新公寓。
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I have not been sleeping well (CGEL) 我近来一直睡眠不好。
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John has seemed worried lately. (EED) 约翰近来似乎很焦虑。
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You've been very busy lately. (TOEFL) 你近来是很忙的。
请做下面的英语试题：
Recently it was damaged. She damaged it ____.
A. late B. lastly C. lately D. finally(NCE)