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In French, to express next and last, you use prochain and dernier. Let's find out how to use them.
How to say next/last in French
Look at the examples:
Le weekend prochain, nous allons à Briançon.Next weekend, we're going to Briançon.
La semaine dernière, j'ai rencontré ses parents.Last week, I met her parents.
Le mois dernier, j'ai passé deux semaines à l'étranger.Last month, I spent two weeks abroad.
L'année prochaine, il commence l'université.Next year, he's starting university.
In French when you say next/last + [generic duration term] (month, week, year...), you will use :
le/la/l' + [duration term] + prochain/prochaine (next)
le/la/l' + [duration term] + dernier/dernière (last)
Note that to say the next day or the following day in French, you use le lendemain, and the previous day/the day before is la veille.
See also the more advanced Expressing "the day after/the day before" in French with "demain/hier" vs "le lendemain/la veille" vs "le jour suivant/le jour précédent" (French Expressions of Time)
ATTENTION:
With specific days (next Monday, last Friday, ...), you don't use the definite article le :
[day of the week] + dernier / prochain
Mardi prochain, elle va à un concert.Next Tuesday, she is going to a concert.
Jeudi dernier, je t'ai donné mon cœur.Last Thursday, I gave you my heart.
With specific months (last February, next March, ...), you use :
en + [month] + dernier / prochain
En janvier dernier, Simon a emménagé en France.Last January, Simon moved to France.
En septembre prochain, Gareth visitera Madrid.Next September, Gareth will visit Madrid.
With seasons (last summer, next spring, ...), you use :
l' + [été/automne/hiver] + dernier / prochain
l'/à l' + [automne] + dernier / prochain
au + [printemps] + dernier / prochain
l'/à l' + [automne] + dernier / prochain
au + [printemps] + dernier / prochain
L'été dernier, j'ai visité la cathédrale de Chartres.Last summer, I visited Chartres's cathedral.
J'ai rencontré François à l'automne dernier.I met François last autumn [US: fall].
Où irez-vous l'hiver prochain ?Where will you go next winter?
Elle commencera son apprentissage au printemps prochain.She'll start her apprenticeship next spring.
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