final、last与ultimate这些形容词均有“最终的、最后的”之意。
final : 指到达终点，多含果断、明确或最后终结的强烈意味。
- a final warning/offer
最后一次警告／出价 - the final chapters of a book
书的最后几章 - the final years
最后几年 - The game is in its final stages.
比赛到了最后阶段。
last : 指一系列事物的最后一个，可表示次序、顺序或时间。
- I hate being the last one to arrive at a meeting.
我不愿意开会时最后一个到。 - Our house is the last one on the left before the traffic lights.
我们家是交通信号灯前左侧的最后一家。 - The Mets will surely finish the season in last place (= at the lowest rank of their division).
梅茨队本赛季肯定要垫底了。 - I know Johnson finished last in the race, but who was second to last (= the one before the one at the end)?
我知道约翰逊在比赛中倒数第一，但谁是倒数第二呢？ - I don't know why he bothers to bet - his horses always come in last.
我不明白他为什么还要去下注——他选的马总是落在最后面。 - At the last moment (= as late as possible) he changed his mind.
在最后一刻他改了主意。 - He always leaves important decisions to the last (possible) moment (= as late as possible).
在重大问题上他总要拖到最后一刻才作决定。
ultimate : 较正式用词，强调已到了极限。
- Of course the ultimate responsibility for the present conflict without doubt lies with the aggressor.
当然，挑起事端的一方毫无疑问应对目前的冲突承担首要责任。 - My manager will make the ultimate decision about who to employ.
我的经理会最终决定雇佣谁。 - Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal.
通奸是最可耻的背叛。 - the ultimate luxury cruiser
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