They are words used to reference (usually immediately) previous text. "Latter" points to the last/"after" option in a choice, while "former" describes the prior option. One can also append descriptions to them, sometimes even affixes are allowed. Example: I had missed the bus- which gave me two options in order to get to work (hopefully!) on time: 1) Hitchike; 2) See if my old, broken down car could make it. The former option [number one] was dangerous, so it basically was out of the question. However, if I took my own car [the latter option], several things were thrown into interrogation: 1) I could get to work on time; 2) The car might break down on the road and I would need to get towed; 3) I could DIE! The second option could result in the lattermost [most-last = option #3], and prevent the formermost [option number one]. And of course, just as way of ree:mphasis, the lattermost of the latter choice [meaning option 3 of option 2 (from the first set)] was DEATH. But I had to get there on time...
The opposite of latter is former.
Former is the first subject in the sentence, latter is the last (usually of two). "A car and a plane are both going to Houston, the latter arrives first." The latter is the plane, the former is the car.
latter = second of two things mentioned eg of apples and oranges, he preferred the latter because they were juicier or eg He preferred oranges to apples, because the latter were not as juicy as the former
The latter form is grammatically correct but the former is in popular usage.
My former opinion was that there were many intelligent people besides me and my associates. However, on account of my having viewed some of these questions, I now think that the former of any given one must be a moronic ten-year-old trying to cheat on a test. Only six former leaders were invited to the party. The former of the former (me) should have written the latter. You win, Awecoolsome. CS
The opposite of latter is former.
Former is the first subject in the sentence, latter is the last (usually of two). "A car and a plane are both going to Houston, the latter arrives first." The latter is the plane, the former is the car.
Former and latter are words used to express a time or preference in a sentence. For example, "I can go to the store at noon or midnight, but I prefer the former." In this sentence the word 'former' is associated with 'noon' and the word 'latter' is associated with the word 'midnight.'
take a backseat to the former.
Yes
latter
If there are two options, the latter is the second one. By implication at least, the latter (second option) is contrasted with the former (first option).
Yes, the former eats the latter
work can transfer the energy from former to the latter.
The former is greater than the latter
The words "former" and "latter refer to two or more things in sequence. If two things were listed, former refers to the first item listen, with latter refering to the second item.
It is the former that is bigger than the latter.