Page 383 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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next and the next; nearest
next week. month etc; the next week, month etc
Next week, month etc (without the) is the week, month etc just after this one. If I am speaking in July, next month is August; in 2006, next year is 2007.
The next week, month etc is the period of seven/thirty/etc days starting at the moment of speaking. On July 15th 2006, the next month is the period from July 15th to August 15th; the next year is the period from July 2006 to July 2007. Compare:
- Goodbye - see you next week. (NOT ••• see ytJft the next week:) I'll be busy for the next week. (= the seven days starting today)
- Next year will be difficult. (= the year starting next January)
The next year will be difficult. (= the twelve months starting now)
The difference between last and the last is similar. See 314.
hurs FII Sat SUII MOil Tu
the next week
h u r l F " S a t S ~u n r V 1 U I l T u i u r s F r I S d l S u r the next three ... etc
Note the word order in expressions with numbers.
I'll be at college for the next three years. (NOT • • • the three ~ 1Mrs.)
We generally say the next few days, not the next flays. The next few days will be wet.
next Sunday etc
When next is used with the names of days or months, it is not always clear exactly what is meant.
See you next Sunday. ,.,Do you mean this coming Sunday or the one after? To avoid misunderstanding, one can say for example (1) on Sunday, this Sunday, the/this Sunday coming, the/this coming Sunday or (on) Sunday this
week, and (2) on Sunday week, a week on Sunday or (on) Sunday next week. place: next and nearest
The netlrest is generally preferred for place - it means 'most near in space'. Excuse me. Where's the nearest tube station? (NOT ••• the ,,~t tube Stati8". Ifyou want to find Alan, just look in the nearest pub.
The next can be used for place if we are talking about movement or direction. It means 'after this/that one'.
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We get offat the next station. (= the station that we will come to next.) It's not on this shelf; it's on the next shelf up.
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