Tomorrow in the past

Question

Hi, I've looked "tomorrow" up in several dictionaries and all of them say more or less the same, the day after today* or the next day following the *present day.
However, I've noticed that many people say things like "I was gonna try it tomorrow, but in the end I gave in."
Is that the usual way to say it? You might find my question a bit strange, but in my native language you should have said "the next day" there.
Thanks.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I've looked "tomorrow" up in several dictionaries and all of them say more or less the same, the day ... might find my question a bit strange, but in my native language you should have said "the next day" there.[/nq]
I guess that depends on when the statement is referring to. "Tomorrow" is always used to mean the day after that in which the statement is being made, not the day after some other day in the past.
But the sentence you mentioned would make sense as "I was going to try it tomorrow, but in the end I gave in (and tried it today instead)."

Cheers
Tony

Tony Mountifield
Work: (Email Removed) - http://www.softins.co.uk Play: (Email Removed) - http://tony.mountifield.org

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I've looked "tomorrow" up in several dictionaries and all of them say more or less the same, the day ... might find my question a bit strange, but in my native language you should have said "the next day" there.[/nq]
Tomorrow is the day after today - the point of reference is the time of speaking. So the correct usage is as in your language. However a sentence like the one you cite might be possible if the day when the speaker was going to try was the day after the act of speaking.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
P.S. I hope I've expressed myself clearly enough.

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[nq:2]However, I've noticed that many people say things like "I was gonna try it tomorrow, but in the end I gave in."[/nq]
[nq:1]Tomorrow is the day after today - the point of reference is the time of speaking. So the correct usage ... try was the day after the act of speaking. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan P.S. I hope I've expressed myself clearly enough.[/nq]
Yeah, what you said is crystal clear, thank you.

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[nq:2]However, I've noticed that many people say things like "I was gonna try it tomorrow, but in the end I gave in."[/nq]
[nq:1]I guess that depends on when the statement is referring to. "Tomorrow" is always used to mean the day after ... as "I was going to try it tomorrow, but in the end I gave in (and tried it today instead)."[/nq]
Thanks Tony, yes, in my phrase both days are in the past. So that's not even a non-standard usage I guess, it's not an usage at all. It's just that I think I've heard it a few times.
And what about indirect speech? I suppose that technically there is only one statement which is situated in the present. For example:

Please come back tomorrow.
The next week I could say:
She told me 'Please come back tomorrow" (two statements) She told me to come back the next day (one statement) She told me to come back tomorrow (incorrect)
Am I right?

Usenet · Answer

At 11:22:46 on Sun, 29 Jun 2008, Leon (Email Removed) wrote in (Email Removed):
[nq:1]Thanks Tony, yes, in my phrase both days are in the past. So that's not even a non-standard usage I guess, it's not an usage at all. It's just that I think I've heard it a few times.[/nq]
It's just possible that you have mis-heard, and interpreted what you heard as "tomorrow". In certain dialects, the expression "the morrow" is used to mean either "tomorrow" as in normal usage, or "the day after the one we are talking about".
For instance: "He died on Tuesday, and was buried on the morrow."
[nq:1]And what about indirect speech? I suppose that technically there is only one statement which is situated in the present. ... me to come back the next day (one statement) She told me to come back tomorrow (incorrect) Am I right?[/nq]
Yes, you're quite right there - because, in reported speech, there is no temporal anchor-point to which the concept of "tomorrow" can be fixed.
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

Tomorrow in the past

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