In re the phrase "the next week" in a narrative

Question

Hi. I think we use the phrase "the next week" when talking to refer to the week starting tomorrow and use the phrase "next week' to refer to the following week starting upcoming Monday.

Now, I also think in a narrative which is written in the past tense, we only can use the phrase "the next week" and not "next week" unless it is part of a quotation, that is what someone has said. For the example sentence below, when does the next week start? From Tuesday or Monday the following week? I hope what I wrote reflects what I wanted to say - not sure, though. Anyway please help me if you could. Thank you in advance.

eg,
He went home to rest on Monday and the next week he went to the park to play tennis.

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

The next week is not a precise time expression. It could mean that he went to the park on any day of the following week.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousHe went home to rest on Monday and the next week he went to the park to play tennis.

I would interpret this as: one Monday he was resting at home, and the following Monday he played tennis at the park.

AnonymousNow, I also think in a narrative which is written in the past tense, we only can use the phrase "the next week" and not "next week" unless it is part of a quotation, that is what someone has said.

It can be past or future:

John was sick in bed for a few days with a cold, but the next week he was better and back at work. (The next week = the week following his sickness, beginning on Monday.)

We will go on a two-week trip next year.
The first week we will be in London, and the next (or second) week we will be in Paris. Then we will fly home.

Anonymous · Answer

Suppose it's Mon., Aug. 20. If I say, "I'm flying to Vegas next week.", that would be generally be understood to mean that I will fly to Vegas sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

Suppose it's Mon., Aug. 13. If I say, "I'm flying to Vegas next week, and the next week I'll fly to New York.", that would generally be understood to mean that I will fly to Vegas sometime between Sun., Aug. 19 and Sat., Aug. 25, and then I will fly to NY sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

So the sentence, "He went home to rest on Mon. and the next week he went to the park to play tennis.", would generally be understood to mean (if Mon. is Mon., Aug. 20) that he went home on Mon., Aug. 20, rested at home from Mon., Aug. 20 to Sat. Aug. 25, and then went to the park to play tennis sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

RandomGuy · Answer

AnonymousSuppose it's Mon., Aug. 20. If I say, "I'm flying to Vegas next week.", that would be generally be understood to mean that I will fly to Vegas sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

Monday, August 27 - Sunday, September 2

AnonymousSuppose it's Mon., Aug. 13. If I say, "I'm flying to Vegas next week, and the next week I'll fly to New York.", that would generally be understood to mean that I will fly to Vegas sometime between Sun., Aug. 19 and Sat., Aug. 25, and then I will fly to NY sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

Monday, August 20 - Sunday, August 26

AnonymousSo the sentence, "He went home to rest on Mon. and the next week he went to the park to play tennis.", would generally be understood to mean (if Mon. is Mon., Aug. 20) that he went home on Mon., Aug. 20, rested at home from Mon., Aug. 20 to Sat. Aug. 25, and then went to the park to play tennis sometime between Sun., Aug. 26 and Sat., Sept. 1.

Monday, August 20 - Sunday, August 26
Monday, August 27 - Sunday, September 2

Monday marks the beginning of a new week, and Sunday the end.

In re the phrase "the next week" in a narrative

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