Why is it grammatically correct to ommit articles when using "last" and "next"

Question

Why is "last time I checked......" Grammatically correct? Why not THE next week?, why are we allowed to omit article the in sentences like these?orI will see you next week (why not THE next week?, why are we allowed to omit article the in sentences like these?)Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

The technically correct form is "The last time I checked ...". Leaving out "the" is a mark of casual speech.
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The following are all fixed adverbial expressions. Note that they are used to say when something happened or will happen.

next week, next month, next year, last week, last month, last year

You can use "the next", thus:

In 1920, X happened. The next year, Y happened. (the next year ~ the year that follows 1920 ~ in 1921)

Briefly, next week measures time from the moment of utterance (now); the next week measures time from a stated point in time. (Likewise for month and year.)

You can also use "the last", thus:

It happened again in 1920. That was the last year that it happened. It never happened again after that.
(the last in a series of years)

CJ

Dib · Answer

are fixed adverbial expressions the same thing as fixed phrases such as "on vacation" or "on foot"?

Briefly, next week measures time from the moment of utterance (now); the next week measures time from a stated point in time. (Likewise for month and year.)

Am I correct here: Next week, I'll go to Canada(means I'll go from the day today which is Saturday to the next Saturday)

Where as: The next week, I'll go to Canada(means I'll go from, say from the coming Monday to the next Monday)

2.
I don't remember where, but I think I read somewhere that in American English:

The last time I checked ... ----here by using the we are implying that we clearly remember for example: The last time I checked, I had four pair of socks.

Where as just using "last time" means that we are almost sure but not 100% sure.

Is this true or my false memory?

Thanks

Odessa Dawn · Answer

I think it should be – they are used to saying, shouldn’t it be, please? Thank you, CJ.

CalifJim · Answer

Odessa Dawn I think it should be – they are used to saying, shouldn’t it be, please? Thank you, CJ.

No. It's two different expressions even though they appear quite similar.

1. The ordinary verb 'use'.

People use them in order to say (the time when something happened) ...

Passive:

They are used (by people) in order to say ...
= They are used to say ...

2. The idiom "to be used to -ing".

They are used to saying that.
= They are accustomed to saying that.
~ They have the habit of saying that.
~ They very frequently say that.

I meant the first one, so it's correct as written.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

DibNext week, I'll go to Canada

At some time between this coming Sunday and the Sunday after it, I'll go to Canada.
So if you say this on Wednesday, 'next week' starts four days from now, on Sunday, and it ends on the following Sunday.

More or less. We are not very accurate about such things, but we usually take a week to start and end at some time during a weekend.

DibThe next week, I'll go to Canada

During the week which is AFTER the reference time that I have already told you about, I'll go to Canada.

Example:

My trip to the U.S. starts November 15. I'll be there until November 30. The next week, I'll go to Canada.

Here, you establish a time reference first — the end of November. Now, relative to that reference point, 'the next week' means the first week of December.

DibThe last time I checked ... we clearly remember ... just using "last time" means ... not 100% sure.

Your memory may be quite accurate or it may be faulty, but don't worry about that; it is not your memory that is in question here.

I have never heard such an analysis, and I don't believe that it is correct. I would dismiss it as a pure guess, or something made up without any evidence, just to have something to say about it.

CJ

Dib · Answer

Thanks

I don't get it, are you saying I made it up? In that case no, I didn't. I do remember reading it somewhere a long time ago, but it was probably(assuming I did read and my memory isn't playing tricks on me) a guess work and probably was suggested by a non native speaker

CalifJim · Answer

Dibare you saying I made it up?

No. Not you.

DibI don't get it

Yes. It's obvious that you don't.
_______________________

I believe that whoever wrote what you read may have made it up.

CJ

Why is it grammatically correct to ommit articles when using "last" and "next"

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