later

Everyday

1. Later means after some time, not now: «I will do it later.» tree →
2. Later also means after the time something else happened: «Two hours later, the tank was full.» tree →
3. As an adjective, later means coming after another one: a later bus, a later chapter. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problems it marks a time after the start; «3 hours later» adds 3 hours to the time, and the story goes on from the new amount. In everyday life: «see you later», «later on», «sooner or later», «not later than». In stories it moves the action forward in time.

Examples

• Two hours later, the tank was full. tree →
• Later she gave away 4 pencils. tree →
• He came back 20 minutes later. tree →
• What time is it 3 hours later? tree →
• I'll tidy my room later, Mum. tree →
• See you later at the bus stop! tree →
• Sooner or later the rain will stop. tree →
• Years later, the boy became a famous scientist. tree →
• We took a later train because the first one was full. tree →
• Perhaps I may tell you later. tree →

Note

«Later» is the comparative of «late»; «latest» means the newest or the last. Do not mix up «later» (after) with «latter» (the second of two). Maths: «X minutes later» adds X to the time; a later event in a story changes the amount that came before it, so work through events in order. Trap: going past 60 minutes changes the hour.

In Jewish tradition

In maths problems it marks a time after the start; «3 hours later» adds 3 hours to the time, and the story goes on from the new amount. In everyday life: «see you later», «later on», «sooner or later», «not later than». In stories it moves the action forward in time.

Examples

• But this arrangement is undoubtedly an interpolation of a later time, as the author of the book "Yezirah" lived many years before Ptolemy. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• In essence the work was, doubtless, the crystallization of centuries of tradition by one writer, and it has been added to from time to time, by later authors, who have also revised it. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Many writers maintain that only at a later period the principle of position and the zero was discovered. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

«Later» is the comparative of «late»; «latest» means the newest or the last. Do not mix up «later» (after) with «latter» (the second of two). Maths: «X minutes later» adds X to the time; a later event in a story changes the amount that came before it, so work through events in order. Trap: going past 60 minutes changes the hour.