last v latest


Compare the following two sentences:


Have you seen Woody Allen's last film?  😡 
Have you seen Woody Allen's latest film 😍 

As far as I know, Woody Allen is still making films and hasn't decided to retire yet.

last = final
latest = the most recent

That was the last song that Michael Jackson wrote before he died.

Have you heard the latest? She's having an affair with her boss.
(in the above example "the latest" refers to recent news, often gossip)

That was my first and last time that I go on a motorbike. I was really scared.

JK Rowling said that she had written the last Harry Potter but now she is thinking about writing another one.

The government's latest idea is to raise the retirement age to 70.

The President's last decision before resigning was to give all politicians a pay rise.

What is the latest film that you have seen?

What is the latest book that you have read?

What is the latest CD that you have bought?

Comments

Marta said…
The latest film I have seen is "Inception". It's a very exciting sci-fi film about dreams and reality. That was in august and I think I will not go to the cinema again until Christmas: in London is so expensive!
I'm reading another best-seller in english: Dan Brown's Lost Symbol, about Masonery, misteries,...
It has been ages I don't buy any CD!
Graham said…
Hi Marta,

I read your mail and I'll reply to it soon.
I'm glad you are on the mend and things are going well in London.

I haven't published your other post yet; I'll give the students in the Int Plus class a chance to answer.

... That was in August (CAPITAL LETTER) and I DON'T THINK I'LL go (1ST - THEN +) to the cinema again until Christmas; IT is so expensive IN LONDON!
I'm reading another best-seller in English (CAPITAL LETTER): Dan Brown's Lost Symbol, about Masonery, mYsteries AND SO ON.
It has been ages SINCE I BOUGHT A CD!

Speak soon and take care :-)
Alicia said…
The latest film I have seen is "Los ojos de Julia" Last sunday I went to the cinema with friends and I saw this film. It's a thriller and I like this kind of movies.
The latest book I have read is "Los hombres que no amaban a las mujeres". Now I am reading a book about Sorolla because he is one of my favourite painters.
Graham said…
The latest film I have seen was "los seductores" - a French comedy starring Vanessa Paradis. It was amusing in parts and quite predictable in others.

Is "los ojos de Julia" worth seeing?
Anonymous said…
The latest film I have seen is "Camino a la Libertad". It's a real story about a group of men who escape from a gulag in Siberia in 1940 and they have to cross The Himalayas walking to get to India. I liked it.
One of the latest books I have read is "La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox" of Maggie O'Farrell, a young Scottish writer and I liked it very much.

See you on Thursday!
Graham said…
I have been reading some positive reviews about "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox". It sounds like a good read.

The TRUE STORY "The Way Back" sounds interesting too but it stars Colin Farrell. I remember seeing him in "Alexander the Great" - a truly awful performance.

I saw "The King's Speech" last weekend and quite enjoyed it.
luciti said…
Hi Graham!

Is it posible to write/put the article "the" before Woody Allen's lastest similar to The President's last decision ....?


Have you seen the Woody Allen's latest film? RIGHT

luciti la catalana
Graham said…
Hi Luciti!

It's just come to me now - didn't I used to call you Pilar?

You could say:

Have you seen the new Woody Allen film? (WA is an adjective)

but you can't use "the" before name's...

Have you got the name of your teacher yet?

Montse said…
Graham, I have read this post again. I say this because I have just seen an old comment of mine. Time flies!!! jejeje!
Graham said…
Montse,

I still haven't read the book you suggested. I wonder if I should I try to read it in Spanish.
Montse said…
Well...if you want I could lend it to you. I've got it.
Graham said…
Ok. Great. It'll be my first book of 2014.
María Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

So, the latest film that I saw is "Misery", the latest book I read is "Carrie".
And, as for as the latest CD, I think I've never bought a CD, at least in the last 10 years.
Graham said…
Evening María,

This post is over thirteen years old. Long before the days of Spotify. I'm old enough to remember records and cassettes. How did you watch Misery? I bet it wasn't on DVD.

You could also ask questions - What was the last book you read? / What was< the last film you saw? / What was the last CD you bought?. Notice the questions use the past tense.

But :
Have you seen his last film?😡
Have you seen his latest film? 😍

So:
The latest film I have seen is Misery. / The last film I saw was Misery.
The latest book I've read is Carrie. / The last book I read was Carrie.

And as for the latest CD, I don't think I've bought a CD in the last ten years.