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oleander
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:49 am
Post subject: Last July, Last Sunday etc. |
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Hi Folks,
I need help bad!
I have this, apparently annoying, habit of referring to recent past months,
and days, as "LAST July, June, May" and LAST Sun., Sat.,Fri. etc. Everyone
gets confused and thinks I'm talking about the prior year's, or week's,
events. They tell me I should be saying "THIS July, June, May or THIS
Sunday, Saturday, Friday".
For example: I'll say I went to Africa LAST June (assuming I went to Africa
in June 2004 and today is September 2004). And I'll say I went swimming LAST
Wednesday (assuming today is Monday Sep. 27th and I went swimming on Wed.
Sep. 22). Should I say I went to Africa THIS June, and went swimming THIS
Wednesday?
I've been using the "last" reference without complaint for most of my life.
Now I'm repeatedly told it's wrong. And, it is indeed confusing many people
in day-to-day conversation. Is this just a West Coast Canada thing? Or has
everyone just been too polite to point out my mistakes for most of my life?
Please help. It's driving me mad!
Thanks
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:34 am
Post subject: Re: Last July, Last Sunday etc. |
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"oleander" <nospam-dedee-g@telus.net> wrote in message
news:jG16d.57525$t61.22080@clgrps13...
| Quote: | Hi Folks,
I need help bad!
I have this, apparently annoying, habit of referring to recent past
months,
and days, as "LAST July, June, May" and LAST Sun., Sat.,Fri. etc. Everyone
gets confused and thinks I'm talking about the prior year's, or week's,
events. They tell me I should be saying "THIS July, June, May or THIS
Sunday, Saturday, Friday".
For example: I'll say I went to Africa LAST June (assuming I went to
Africa
in June 2004 and today is September 2004). And I'll say I went swimming
LAST
Wednesday (assuming today is Monday Sep. 27th and I went swimming on Wed.
Sep. 22). Should I say I went to Africa THIS June, and went swimming THIS
Wednesday?
I've been using the "last" reference without complaint for most of my
life.
Now I'm repeatedly told it's wrong. And, it is indeed confusing many
people
in day-to-day conversation. Is this just a West Coast Canada thing? Or has
everyone just been too polite to point out my mistakes for most of my
life? |
I agree with you. I say "this past August, (summer, etc.)". However, on TV
news, including weather reports, I frequently hear "last August", meaning
August of 2004. I haven't been corrected, and I don't comment on others'
usage (except here), but I frequently have to ask them about the year of
reference.
I find the same overlap in usage when speaking of "next week" and "this
week", for some people, speaking of "this Saturday" do not refer to the
Saturday of the current week, but of the one following the upcoming Sunday.
That doesn't take into consideration the very rare (in AmE) "last Sunday
week", and "next Sunday week".
I suppose, examining my usages, I am somewhat inconsistent. |
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oleander
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:36 am
Post subject: Re: Last July, Last Sunday etc. |
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Thank you Pat,
You have clarified that my understanding of English is in need of work.
English, even to a native speaker, is impossible to master, like other
languages the nuiances are difficult.
Your feedback has given me a greater understanding of communication in
general.
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oleander
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:57 am
Post subject: Re: Last July, Last Sunday etc. |
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| Quote: | Your feedback has given me a greater understanding of communication in
general.
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And that's what it's all about. |
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