NationStates Jolt Archive

...."next Friday", do you assume that the person speaking means "the Friday of next week" or "The Friday of this week (next Friday in sequence)"?

"next friday" means the friday after "this friday" or "this coming friday".

It depends on the day of the week. If it's Sunday or Monday, I assume this week. If it's past Wednesday, then I assume the next week. Tuesday is a fuzzy proposition.

Today being Monday, i imagine next Friday.:p

If it's to meet with someone I like, I'll double check with a :" okay. Friday week? 10 days right? I'll be there."

If it's somebody I don't want see, I can allways say: "Awwww...You know I thought you meant the Friday before that. I was wondering why your ass wasn't there" :D

Sorry, I messed up the poll. I voted "Friday this week", although that's bullshit. When I hear "next Friday", and their still is a Friday left in the week this has been said in, I'll assume the person is talking not about that one, but the Friday of the week after. If it is, however, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, "next Friday" will most likely be the Friday of teh week that's aout to start.

...."next Friday", do you assume that the person speaking means "the Friday of next week" or "The Friday of this week (next Friday in sequence)"?

This actually is a grammatical question with a proper answer that I deal with
regularly in my ESL classes.

When you are referring to a time for instance a day of the week. If it is Tuesday and you want to say the Monday that is coming up would you say "this Monday" or "next Monday". Also how does it apply for a month of the year such as if you are referring to March 2007 but it's September 2006, would you say "next March" or "this March"?

A. Because Monday is six days away from the time of speaking and March is in the next calendar year, it is best to say “next.”

If the day or month in question is closer to the time of speaking, you can say “This.” If today is Monday September 18, you can say “this Wednesday” for the 20th.
http://www.udel.edu/eli/grammar.html

Lets say today is Wednesday. you have an appointment the Friday on the following week. How would you say the day: 1. next Friday 2. Friday week 3. ??? thank you

A. If today is Wednesday, April 26, then Friday, May 5, would be “a week from this Friday.”

Friday, May 12, would be “two weeks from Friday.”
http://www.udel.edu/eli/questions/g05.html

Hope those answers make it clear what's correct. If not, I'll be glad to further assist you.

(Oh, and I chose the "screw Fridays" option as the first two, as given, would be ungrammatical, and the third doesn't apply, I do care about grammar.)

This actually is a grammatical question with a proper answer that I deal with
regularly in my ESL classes.


http://www.udel.edu/eli/grammar.html


http://www.udel.edu/eli/questions/g05.html

Hope those answers make it clear what's correct. If not, I'll be glad to further assist you.

Wow :eek:

I usually only use next for days that are more than 7 days away, so I should change?


(Oh, and I chose the "screw Fridays" option as the first two, as given, would be ungrammatical, and the third doesn't apply, I do care about grammar.)

But do you have money? Or know what it means?

Wow :eek:

I usually only use next for days that are more than 7 days away, so I should change?

Yes, you should, if you want to be grammatically correct (and remember, grammatically correct communication is clear communication, so you should endevor to be correct). For example, since today, Sunday November 5th is closer to Friday the 3rd, Friday the 3rd would be "this Friday" and Friday the 10th would be "next Friday".

(Oh, and I chose the "screw Fridays" option as the first two, as given, would be ungrammatical, and the third doesn't apply, I do care about grammar.)
But do you have money? Or know what it means?

Yes, I do.

Yes, you should, if you want to be grammatically correct (and remember, grammatically correct communication is clear communication, so you should endevor to be correct). For example, since today, Sunday November 5th is closer to Friday the 3rd, Friday the 3rd would be "this Friday" and Friday the 10th would be "next Friday".

I'd say Friday the 3rd was "last Friday", since it's already history. :confused:

"next friday" means the friday after "this friday" or "this coming friday".Agreed.

I'd say Friday the 3rd was "last Friday", since it's already history. :confused:

Ah, yes, that's the question that usually comes up in class. This is a demonstrative adjective showing physical, psychological, or temporal closeness.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns1.htm#demonstrative

Thus "this" should be applied to the closest day. As today is the 5th, this Friday would be November 3rd and last Friday would be October 27th.

However, if today were the 8th, this Friday would refer to the 10th and the 3rd would be last Friday.

Ah, yes, that's the question that usually comes up in class. This is a demonstrative adjective showing physical, psychological, or temporal closeness.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns1.htm#demonstrative

Thus "this" should be applied to the closest day. As today is the 5th, this Friday would be November 3rd and last Friday would be October 27th.

However, if today were the 8th, this Friday would refer to the 10th and the 3rd would be last Friday.What if it's exactly 12AM Tuesday, which would make Friday either exactly 3 days back or 3 days ahead? (Since Friday is a day, the other days add up to 6.)

Ah, yes, that's the question that usually comes up in class. This is a demonstrative adjective showing physical, psychological, or temporal closeness.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns1.htm#demonstrative

Thus "this" should be applied to the closest day. As today is the 5th, this Friday would be November 3rd and last Friday would be October 27th.

However, if today were the 8th, this Friday would refer to the 10th and the 3rd would be last Friday.

Grammar sometimes needs adjustment. We should take a vote on this subject.

What if it's exactly 12AM Tuesday, which would make Friday either exactly 3 days back or 3 days ahead? (Since Friday is a day, the other days add up to 6.)

On the middle day, use last and next, but not this, as neither is closer.

On the middle day, use last and next, but not this, as neither is closer.

I am just wondering what percentage of the world's populace with a reasonable control of the english language actually knows of these grammatical rules :p

It's Sunday today, so if you tell me next Friday, is the same as this coming Friday, just different wording.

Main Entry: 1next
Pronunciation: 'nekst
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nIehst, superlative of nEah nigh -- more at NIGH
1 : immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)
2 : any other considered hypothetically <knew it as well as the next man>

I am just wondering what percentage of the world's populace with a reasonable control of the english language actually knows of these grammatical rules :p

Generally speaking, most rules like this are internalised and you apply the rules without thinking. It's when one starts thinking about it that one gets confused.

It's Sunday today, so if you tell me next Friday, is the same as this coming Friday, just different wording.

That's close but not quite correct. "This coming Friday" makes it clear it's the closest (this) Friday in the future (coming).

Main Entry: 1next
Pronunciation: 'nekst
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nIehst, superlative of nEah nigh -- more at NIGH
1 : immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time)
2 : any other considered hypothetically <knew it as well as the next man>

As for time relationships, next refers to the following time.

I always thought they meant "the next time Friday comes around" but according to my husband it means "the Friday after the next Friday comes around"

:confused:

we have a lot of problems around here if I don't verify

"I need you to cook extra food next friday"
"the third?"
"no, next friday"
"the tenth?"
"yes"

^^ conversation heard in my house last Tuesday (the 31st)

the friday of next week.

Depends on the day of the week.

The purpose of communication is to convey a message. Hence, I'm personally not particularly fussy on semantics. There is a line, of course.

It is quite interesting though.

Ah, yes, that's the question that usually comes up in class. This is a demonstrative adjective showing physical, psychological, or temporal closeness.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns1.htm#demonstrative

Thus "this" should be applied to the closest day. As today is the 5th, this Friday would be November 3rd and last Friday would be October 27th.

However, if today were the 8th, this Friday would refer to the 10th and the 3rd would be last Friday.

Nope. "This" is an acknowledged clip of "this-coming". Using "this" for days already past is unnecessarily confusing. What's wrong with (if it's today, Sunday) "two days ago" or paying attention to the context of the sentence? "Last" should be used like "next" -- to refer to the specified day when a week intervenes.

FRIDAY<----one week<----FRIDAY<---SUNDAY----> FRIDAY --->one week---> FRIDAY
"last"<------one week<------"Friday"<--"today" --> "this" ---> one week ---> "next"

...."next Friday", do you assume that the person speaking means "the Friday of next week" or "The Friday of this week (next Friday in sequence)"?

Usually on thursday, "next Friday," means "a week from tomorrow," because the Friday before that is "tomorrow."

Any other day of the week "Next Friday," usually means the approaching Friday, not skipping one.

next fridy to me means the next friday coming, be in 5 days or 3.

"last friday" means the friday before the friday within the past 7 days
"friday" means the friday within the past 7 days
"this friday" means the first friday to come after today
"next friday" means the second friday to come after today

Red=Today

S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S

Nope. "This" is an acknowledged clip of "this-coming". Using "this" for days already past is unnecessarily confusing. What's wrong with (if it's today, Sunday) "two days ago" or paying attention to the context of the sentence? "Last" should be used like "next" -- to refer to the specified day when a week intervenes.

FRIDAY<----one week<----FRIDAY<---SUNDAY----> FRIDAY --->one week---> FRIDAY
"last"<------one week<------"Friday"<--"today" --> "this" ---> one week ---> "next"

Usually on thursday, "next Friday," means "a week from tomorrow," because the Friday before that is "tomorrow."

Any other day of the week "Next Friday," usually means the approaching Friday, not skipping one.

"last friday" means the friday before the friday within the past 7 days
"friday" means the friday within the past 7 days
"this friday" means the first friday to come after today
"next friday" means the second friday to come after today

Red=Today

S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S

All incorrect. As as pointed out earlier, "this" referes to the closest point in time, whether future or past. Otherwise, we wouldn't ask (today being Monday) "what did you do this weekend?"

This Friday = the first Friday after today on the calender or today, if today is Friday

Next Friday = the Friday following this Friday

This past Friday = the last Friday to have passed

Just use the damn date. Friday the 10th. Problem f'ng solved. :p

I assume its the Friday of next week, but I usually clarify by asking if its this Friday coming up.

I always clarify.

On the middle day, use last and next, but not this, as neither is closer.
or one could say this past Friday?

This Friday is the Friday coming up this week.

Next Friday is the Friday the week after.

Just use the damn date. Friday the 10th. Problem f'ng solved.

I never said this is a problem :(
I just wanted to know what the general thought is. I think the poll speaks for itself, around 10% of people have too much money to care about Friday :D

or one could say this past Friday?

This past Friday, like this coming Friday, would be a different expression.

This Friday = the first Friday after today on the calender or today, if today is Friday

Next Friday = the Friday following this Friday

This past Friday = the last Friday to have passed

Wrong, right, and right. How many times do I need to point out that "this" is the demonstrative adjective for the closest location or time, NOT the following location or time. Next is used to refer to the time immediately following the closest time.

This Friday is the Friday coming up this week.

Next Friday is the Friday the week after.

Nope, that's not correct. Unless you can magically twist the word "this" to have a new meaning, it means the closest location or time, not the following location or time.

Good grief, I wish you people would consult a grammar text and check what's accurate, before spreading such falsehoods.

Nope, that's not correct. Unless you can magically twist the word "this" to have a new meaning, it means the closest location or time, not the following location or time.

People usually assume that once a Friday is in the past, you will refer to it as such. Even if the phrase "this Friday" referring to a Friday that has passed is grammatically correct, the vast majority of people will not assume/realise that.

"Next friday" is the same as "this friday." The next friday after whatever day it happens to be now.

Unless it's thursday or friday when you say it. It would be silly to say "next friday" when you actually meant tomorrow or today.

"Friday" is the first upcoming friday, or the one most recently passed, depending on context.

"Friday week" is the next friday after the first upcoming one.

And "friday night" is part of the the Twilight Zone, a timeless realm with no clear beginning or end.

"friday" means the friday within the past 7 daysReally? How about "I have a test on friday" vs "I had a test on friday" Clearly the first refers to the first friday to come, whereas the latter refers to the last friday that went.

How many times do I need to point out that "this" is the demonstrative adjective for the closest location or time, NOT the following location or time.Five million times.
Of course that will not make it more or less true. What is proper usage depends on the understanding of the people using it, and clearly they are confused on the matter. Grammar is not normative, it is an emergent property of language, and there is no authorative body to control it.

I'm with the people that interpret "this friday" as "this coming friday".
And anyone who interprets "I'll meet you this friday" (said on sunday) as "I'll meet you two days ago" is clearly being silly. It makes absolutely no sense, whereas the other interpretation does. Simple matter of applying Grice's maxims.


Come to think of it. Won't the verb of the sentence always remove ambiguity of whether the time spoken of is in the past or the future (or present)?
This friday is the friday closets in the future.
This friday was the one closest in the past.

Wrong, right, and right. How many times do I need to point out that "this" is the demonstrative adjective for the closest location or time, NOT the following location or time. Next is used to refer to the time immediately following the closest time.

That may be what it is by definition, but that is not the connotation it has in my or many other people's minds. People usually think of "this" as something infront of them. They also tend to think of time as linear (whether it is or not, that's how most people think of it). So the Friday which has passed is behind them, not in front, therefore it cannot be "this Friday" I understand your point, and it is valid, but most people don't think of it that way.

Really? How about "I have a test on friday" vs "I had a test on friday" Clearly the first refers to the first friday to come, whereas the latter refers to the last friday that went.

Bingo.

Five million times.
Of course that will not make it more or less true. What is proper usage depends on the understanding of the people using it, and clearly they are confused on the matter. Grammar is not normative, it is an emergent property of language, and there is no authorative body to control it.

While it is true that grammar is an emergent property and changes, it's important to balance descriptive grammar with prescriptive grammar in order to maintain some degree of standardization for legal and educational purposes, as well as clear and precise communication.

As for authoritative bodies regulating language, English has no authoritative governing body to give prescriptive regulation, but there are authoritative prescriptive grammar sources such as Henry Fowler's English Usage.

I'm with the people that interpret "this friday" as "this coming friday".
And anyone who interprets "I'll meet you this friday" (said on sunday) as "I'll meet you two days ago" is clearly being silly. It makes absolutely no sense, whereas the other interpretation does. Simple matter of applying Grice's maxims.

Indeed, someone interpreting "I'll meet you this friday" (said on sunday) as "I'll meet you two days ago" would be grammatically incorrect (on two points).


Come to think of it. Won't the verb of the sentence always remove ambiguity of whether the time spoken of is in the past or the future (or present)?
This friday is the friday closets in the future.
This friday was the one closest in the past.


Indeed this is so.

That may be what it is by definition, but that is not the connotation it has in my or many other people's minds. People usually think of "this" as something infront of them. They also tend to think of time as linear (whether it is or not, that's how most people think of it). So the Friday which has passed is behind them, not in front, therefore it cannot be "this Friday" I understand your point, and it is valid, but most people don't think of it that way.

I disagree. As Damor pointed out, the tense of the verb helps to clarify the issue. Otherwise, "what did you do this weekend?" would be observed to be grammatically incorrect.

This past Friday, like this coming Friday, would be a different expression.



Wrong, right, and right. How many times do I need to point out that "this" is the demonstrative adjective for the closest location or time, NOT the following location or time. Next is used to refer to the time immediately following the closest time.



Nope, that's not correct. Unless you can magically twist the word "this" to have a new meaning, it means the closest location or time, not the following location or time.

Good grief, I wish you people would consult a grammar text and check what's accurate, before spreading such falsehoods.

The OP didn't ask for grammatical correctness, s/he asked what we thought when we heard the phrase in question. What I wrote is the common usage of the phrase where I live, hence my answer.