Latelyis usually used with perfect tenses, not with the simple past tense.lately 通常和完成时连用,而不和一般过去时连用
I’ve been very busy lately (NOT 不说 I was very busy lately).
我最近非常忙。
nGRAMMAR: Choosing the right tense
Lately is usually used with perfect tenses (for example ‘I have been’), not with the simple past (for example ‘I was’). You say:
I’ve been very busy lately.
我最近非常忙。
✗Don’t say: I was very busy lately.
Examples from the Corpus
lately• I've been really tiredlately.• I don't know what's come over Angela lately -- she's so moody.• I've been really busylately, so I haven't been out much.• The company went through a bad time last year, but lately things have been improving.