The "This" "Next" conven

[Badger]

This month is used to represent the month that currently contains you.  Next month is (quite obviously) the one after that.

As with everything else in the world outside of days of the week (for some people).

You don't say that the "next plane" is the one after the one coming up...  It makes no sense.

Nearest in space or position; adjacent: the next room.
Immediately following, as in time, order, or sequence: next week; the next item on the list.[/list:u] Meaning...  On Thursday, Next Saturday is two days away, not nine...  'cause it's next on the list.

I've had people call me crazy for actually arguing about this...  But, I think it's crazy to say that "next" doesn't actually mean "next" in certain contexts.........

I posted it 'cause someone was talking about it again.  Next == Next!

You say that like it's supposed to make sense.  Sheesh.  

It's language...not math.

[JetSwing]

badger, your post was too long to read so forgive me if i'm repeating.

i wrote a book called Using "THIS" and "NEXT" for Dummies. it's a very short book.

====================
* Chapter Last
====================

To correctly use the terms "this" and "next", follow the easy 3 steps in order. if anytime a criteria has met, stop, do not proceed to the next step. This ingenious method applys to anything and everything.

Step 1: Has it passed you by? Is it in the past?

If yes, the answer is: LAST/PAST
IF no, proceed to Step2.

Step 2: Are you in it? Is it within this week?

If yes, the answer is: THIS/TODAY
If no, proceed to Step3.

Step 3: Is it in the future?

If yes, the answer is: NEXT
If no, you're screwed.

[Gisser]

What would the Beatles have done?  "Take the NEXT train to Clarksville and I'll meet you at the station..."  They'd never meet up, 'cause "Next" actually means the one after next...  Should they have said, "Take THIS train to Clarksville?"

Most likely, the Beatles wouldn't have covered a song popularized by the Monkees.     Credibility being what it is.

[Alphamazing]

THIS Saturday means the one that is forthcoming. NEXT Saturday means the upcoming Saturday. LAST Saturday means the previous Saturday.

Depending on context, "this" and "next" can mean the same thing. In terms of weekend stuff, they do. If it's a week after the upcoming Saturday, then it's the week after this/next Saturday. That's grammar for ya.

[Badger]

That's grammar for ya.

Actually, it's colloquialism.  Grammar has very little to do with it.

[Alphamazing]

Oh cram it, you.

[Badger]

:lol:  :lol:

[scratch]

This is always closer than that, as in, that over there vs. this right here.

A couple is two.
A few is three.
Some is four or more.
Several is seven or more.

[pandy]

Several is seven or more.

Nooooo....several is the same as a few....three or more!

[JetSwing]

Several is seven or more.

Nooooo....several is the same as a few....three or more!

+1

and i always thought that a "couple" was 2, like when you say a couple of days...but it's actually same as "few" and "several"

so...

couple = few = several

it doesn't make sense to me  :dunno:

[RVertigo]

BAH!!!

If "This" refers to the current week, then you have to determine when people's weeks start and end...

Is Sunday the first day or the last?  Or does "this" and "Next" mean the same thing since it can't be in the past, unlike when refering to mornings when it's always in the past and weekends when it's sometimes in the past.

And as for the couple, few, several thing...  Again...  Damnit...   :x
I say that couple == 2, few == 3-4 (and sometimes more depending on the generally expected number, 25 is few when the expected is 1,000   ) and several is between a few and a lot...  Also depending on the expected number...

           

So...  I'm going snowboarding with a "few" people "This Next Saturday," also known as "the day after today."  :nana:

[Jake D]

Why not just leave it at last and next? :dunno:

Four Weeks Of The Month (just an example)

Week 1 - LAST week
Week 2 - THIS week (current)
Week 3 - NEXT week
Week 4 - the week AFTER NEXT

I agree with what you've written here.  So look; today is Friday.  This weekend starts in like 5 hours.  This Saturday is tomorrow.  Next Saturday is 8 days form now.  Last saturday was 6 days ago.  

It is the weekend!  It's a celebration!!!!!

[RVertigo]

What about "This Next Saturday"  :nana:

It's really about earlier in the week...  Like when I say "Next Saturday" on Monday or Tuesday...  IMO Saturday isn't close enough to call it "Saturday" or "This Saturday."

I think I'm going to start saying, "Saturday of this week" and "Saturday of next week."  Then everyone will know what I mean...  Including me.

[JetSwing]

to rvertigo for making our lives more complicated!  :nana:

[RVertigo]

to rvertigo for making our lives more complicated!  :nana:

Hey...  I was trying to make them easier by getting rid of "this" as a time indicator and just leaving it at Last and Next...

[Jake D]

There is nothing wrong with "this".  Okay, look at this following conversation.  Picture me and you at a tailgate before a Chiefs' game.  I have a cooler full of beer and one in my hand.

Rvertigo: I need a beer.

Jake D: You want one of mine?

Rvertigo: Yeah, if you don't mind.

Jake D: (extending beer to Rvertigo) You want this one?

Rvertigo: I would rather have the next one.  One from the cooler.

Jake D: Certainly.

Now notice, when I said "this" beer, I clearly meant the one that was in proximity.  The one that was immediate.  The one in my hand.  When you said "next one", you clearly meant the one in the cooler.

Same with Saturdays.  This Saturday is the one in proximity.  Next Saturday is the one after that.  

Duh.

[RVertigo]

But, next Saturday is the next one...  And this Saturday is this one...

On Monday, the next Saturday is the next one on the calendar....  Meaning, the up coming one...

But, "this weekend" depends on what day of the week it is.

I guess my Saturdays fall in line with the weekends...  On Monday, this weekend is the weekend that just passed and next weekend is the upcoming weekend.

I just find it annoying that "This" and "Next" don't always mean the same thing.

If you are waiting for a cab/plane/bus, you are waiting for the next cab to come by...  If you said, "I'm waiting for THIS cab/plane/bus" when no cab/plane/bus was in sight, people would ask "What cab?"  But, if you said "I'm waiting for the next cab/plane/bus" people would know that meant the very next one to show up...  Not the one after that.

[cobalt135]

"This Saturday" is the next Saturday that will occur (the one that is fewer than 7 days away.)

"This past Saturday" is the last one that happened.  Also "Last Saturday", unless used on Sunday, then "Yesterday" is the appropriate term.

"Next Saturday" is somewhat confusing, and partially dependent on the day of the week.  On Sunday, "Next Saturday" means this upcoming Saturday (a.k.a. "This Saturday", which is confusing on Sunday anyway).  

On Monday or Tuesday, "Next Saturday" could go either way.  In these cases, using the somewhat unwieldy, "Not This Saturday But Next Saturday" is appropriate.  Also, "The Weekend After Next" generally results in less confusion.

Wednesday through Friday, "Next Saturday" definitely means the next one that is not "This Saturday".  Since "This Weekend" obviously contains "This Saturday".  "Next Weekend" must be the one after that, which would subsequently contain "Next Saturday".

Clear now?  

Without reading all the posts I say it like Badger has above.  I will also use "this coming" instead of "Next"

[Badger]

Clear now?  

Without reading all the posts I say it like Badger has above.  I will also use "this coming" instead of "Next"

  It didn't even make sense to me when I wrote it.  :lol: