Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Education And Learning
  4. / Education Subjects
  5. / English Grammar

by der Bingle on December 29th, 2011

der Bingle

Question

Help answer this question below.

What's the difference between the former and the latter?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 2 helpful answers below.

  • by Olga_K4652 on April 22nd, 2012

    Olga_K4652

    ‘The latter’ is
    - that mentioned in speech or a sentence as the second or last in a sequence (The mother and her son had an argument yesterday. The latter tried to commit suicide afterwards.);
    - which is nearest to the end (This is the latter chapter of the book);
    - which is closer to today (of time) – In latter times we’ve gone through an Information Revolution.
    ‘The former’ is
    - someone or something that was something or someone in the past but is not any longer (The former football player now doesn’t give interviews at all. The former Russian Empire became a republic in 1917).
    - The first of the two mentioned (just opposite to’ latter’) Mom and son had an argument yesterday. The former kicked the latter out of the house unless he is more serious about his study.)
    - P.S. ‘former’ has also the meaning of ‘someone who forms something, a founder and a member of a school form (which is the British version of the word ‘grade).

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Nancy B has screwed things up again... on December 29th, 2011

    Nancy B has screwed things up again...

    The former comes before and the latter comes after... :P

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What's the difference between the former and the latter?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

The difference between former and latter in english grammar
The former and the latter difference

Answerbag

a Demand Media company