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Raen Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Wednesday of which week?
A Wednesday of some weeks ago I was in state of panic when I arrived in class and realized the day was the exam day and was not prepared for it, and nearly accused the Professor of misinforming us. I'm glad I didn't.
I later figured out where the miscommunication occured and remembered long ago this similar issue of "day of what week?" was discussed on this forum. What happened was, on Monday prior the professor wrote in cap. "Exam is next Wednesday", and I (as a Chinese) read it as "Exam is Wednesday of next week".
I have a question, and this is simply out of curiosity for I know asking the question will not change a thing (nor is it my intention to). So the question is, why wouldn't you (native speakers) say "Exam is this Wednesday (that is to yet come)"? Surely it wouldn't have meant wednesday of last week. So what happen to "this Wednesday"? Why wouldn't you guys use "this" to refer to current week?
I later figured out where the miscommunication occured and remembered long ago this similar issue of "day of what week?" was discussed on this forum. What happened was, on Monday prior the professor wrote in cap. "Exam is next Wednesday", and I (as a Chinese) read it as "Exam is Wednesday of next week".
I have a question, and this is simply out of curiosity for I know asking the question will not change a thing (nor is it my intention to). So the question is, why wouldn't you (native speakers) say "Exam is this Wednesday (that is to yet come)"? Surely it wouldn't have meant wednesday of last week. So what happen to "this Wednesday"? Why wouldn't you guys use "this" to refer to current week?
Top answer
Hi, On Monday 6/June I would say 'this Wednesday' or simply 'Wednesday' to refer to Wednesday 8/June. When people say 'next Wednesday', you need to be careful if it relates to something important. If you search the Forum, you'll find quite a lot of discussion about this.
- Hi, On Monday 6/June I would say 'this Wednesday' or simply 'Wednesday' to refer to Wednesday 8/June.
- When people say 'next Wednesday', you need to be careful if it relates to something important.
- If you search the Forum, you'll find quite a lot of discussion about this.
- Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,
On Monday 6/June I would say 'this Wednesday' or simply 'Wednesday' to refer to Wednesday
8/June.
When people say 'next Wednesday', you need to be careful if it relates to something important.
On Monday 6/June I would say 'this Wednesday' or simply 'Wednesday' to refer to Wednesday
8/June.
When people say 'next Wednesday', you need to be careful if it relates to something important.
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Oh well, your professor was wrong, i guess. She/he should have used wednesday/ this coming wednesday if she/he's referring to a day on the current week.
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Would you say it's common that native speakers (maybe more common with Americans) use "next" this way. Because this incident is not unique. Just today, a fellow classmate (from diffenrent class) informed me of an exam for this coming Wednesday. And she refered it as "Next Wednesday" which I confirmed by askinging "this coming Wednesday?"
I just thought it's very confusing, and damning
I just thought it's very confusing, and damning
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Hi,
It's not unusual.
Yet we all seem able to organize our lives quite well without much confusion.
It's not unusual.
Yet we all seem able to organize our lives quite well without much confusion.
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