later 如果单独使用(即不与表示具体时间的词连用),则可以用来表示“从现在算起的以后”(泛指以后)。例如:See you later. 再见。 / I'll tell you all about it later. 以后我把这一切都告诉你。
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later on 是副词短语,主要有两种用法:
1. 表示“以后”、“将来”、“过些时候”(多用于将来时或具有将来意义的句子)。例如:We'll discuss the matter later on. 我们以后将讨论这事。/ I'll tell you more about this later on. 关于这事我以后再详细告诉你。
2. 表示“后来”、“过了些时候”(多用于过去时态)。例如:At first, things went well, but later on we ran into trouble. 一开始情况不错,可后来我们遇到了麻烦。/ Bill couldn't stand on his head when school started, but later on he learned how. 开学时比尔会不会倒立,但后来他学会了。
注:(1)later on 与副词 later 同义,前者常用于口语。例如:See you later. 再见!/ I'll be seeing you later on. 我以后还要和你见面。
(以上摘自《薄冰英语惯用法词典》p.474)