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English Grammar

Nearest and Next

Nearest means ‘most near in space’.

• Excuse me. Where is the nearest hospital?

Next means ‘coming immediately after, in space or in order’.

• I am first. Who is next?
• Take the next turning to the right.
• I am looking forward to her next visit.
• When you have finished this, what are you going to do next?

Note that in a few fixed expressions, next is used to mean ‘nearest in space’.

• Who lives next door?
• Come and sit next to me.

Next and the next

Next week, next month etc are the week or month just after this one. If I am speaking in May, next month is June; if I am speaking in the year 2005, next year is 2006. Prepositions are not generally used before these time expressions.

• Goodbye – see you next week. (NOT … the next week.)
• I am spending next Christmas with my family.

The next

The next week means the period of seven days, starting at the moment of speaking.

• I am going to be very busy for the next week. ( = the seven days starting today.)
• I will be at college for the next three years.

Note that when there is no number, we say the next few days/weeks/months, not the next days/weeks/months.

• The next few days are going to be wet. (NOT The next days ...)