Next week or the next week? (2025)

Hello everyone! I have an easy question about the definite article with next and last in time expressions. Could you help me to choose the most correct sentences?

1) Just to let you know I won't be very active for the next week. I'll be on holiday with my friends.

OR

Just to let you know I won't be very active for next week. I'll be on holiday with my friends.

2) I'll probably be very busy because of school, for next month, so I'm thinking about resigning from my position of ...

OR

I'll probably be very busy because of school, for next month, so I'm thinking about resigning from my position of ...

Is there a rule on how to write time expressions with "for" and "next" ?

PaulQ said:

the makes "next <time>" specific (the = which you are aware of"), and that is what you want.

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Here "next week" is specific too. We know which week. Why isn't "the" used, please?

"Are you going away next week? No, the week after next." (Exercise from Advanced Grammar in Use)

PaulQ said:

next week is an adverbial phrase in the same way that now and tomorrow are adverbs.

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But it can get "the", no?

PaulQ said:

Perhaps, perhaps not... You need to give context...

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But this example is clear, or does it need context?
"Are you going away next week? No, the week after next."

tunaafi said:

'Next week' is only the one after this week.
'The next week' is the one after one referred to previously.

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We use "the" when we are thinking of a specific thing. in "next week" it is specific too, since as you said it is only the one after this week, no?

"Are you going away [..next week..]? No, .......the........ week ........after next."
..............................[adverb phrase].No, determiner......noun ....[adjectival phrase]

Some modifiers specify their noun, thus justifying the definite article.

PaulQ said:

"Are you going away [..next week..]? No, .......the........ week ........after next."
..............................[adverb phrase].No, determiner......noun ....[adjectival phrase]

Some modifiers specify their noun, thus justifying the definite article.

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Sorry PaulQ, I don't understand "
"Are you going away [..next week..]? No, .......the........ week ........after next."
..............................[adverb phrase].No, determiner......noun ....[adjectival phrase]
"

By "Some modifiers specify their noun, thus justifying the definite article.", do you mean "next" is a modifier that acts like the definite article so "the" isn't needed?

"Are you going away [..next week..]? No, .......the........ week ........after next."
..............................[adverb phrase].No, determiner......noun ....[adjectival phrase]

What you have noticed is one of English’s irregularities. There is an explanation for it, but the explanation is complicated.

In "Are you going away next week?” the full meaning is "Are you going away during1 the course of next week.

preposition

“during the course of next week” is {preposition + noun phrase} + {preposition + noun phrase} = modifier + modifier = modifier

next week is an inseparable noun phrase that has one meaning: it can be considered as a compound proper noun or name that describes/is the full set of seven days that start on the Sunday that follows the day upon which the statement is made.

Although next week is a noun, because it is the object of the preposition “during”, “during next week” thus becomes a modifier, and it is adverbial.

In “No, I am going the next week” week is a common noun – a period of seven days. It is not specific, but when it is modified by “next” it then takes on the meaning of that week that follows the {next week} that the first speaker mentioned.

1 "during" is not quite the correct preposition, but I do not think the correct preposition exists - perhaps at/in, or upon could work...

Edit
As I think about it In "Are you going away next week?” the full meaning is "Are you going away at the start of the course of next week. -> this simply adds another layer of modifier and does not, in itself, change the explanation

PaulQ said:

As I think about it In "Are you going away next week?” the full meaning is "Are you going away at the start of the course of next week. -> this simply adds another layer of modifier and does not, in itself, change the explanation

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For me that question could refer to the whole of next week, or it could mean a shorter time in the course next week. I might answer, depending on what I am doing:

"Yes. We've booked an apartment in Malta for the whole break,"
or:
Not for long. We may go to coast for a couple of days, but that's all."

taraa said:

"Next week" I would understand as being during the week starting next Monday.

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PaulQ said:

it [next week] can be considered as a compound proper noun or name that describes/is the full set of seven days that start on the Sunday that follows the day upon which the statement is made.

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taraa said:

How do you say the meaning of "the next week"?

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Could you rephrase that? The question is unclear.

PaulQ said:

Could you rephrase that? The question is unclear.

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I just wanted to know the meaning of "the next week"?

You need to read this post:

tunaafi said:

'Next week' is only the one after this week.
'The next week' is the one after one referred to previously.

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PaulQ said:

You need to read this post:

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Yes, I had read tunnafi's answer.
But can "the" here be omitted, please?

'In the next week if it is convenient I would like to view the property with my colleague Ms Uschi Lenz.'

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"I would like to view the property in the next week" sounds all right to me. It implies "in the seven days starting from today", so it is usually not the same as "next week".

"In next week" is not idiomatic.

If you said "'In the next week if it is convenient I would like to view the property" I would have to ask you
"Which next week? What are you talking about?" because I do not know when you said that.
(An alternative would be "within the next seven days from today" - which is not the same as "next week".)

If we are speaking today:

(crossposted)

Imagine that today is Wednesday. "Next week" starts on Sunday or Monday.

We don't say "

" or "

". For an unspecified day next week, we can say "some time next week" or "one day next week". Some time next week/One day next week, I'll have to plant out my broad bean seedlings.

"

" is possible. Try to finish that job before next week.

"

" is possible. After next week, you'll be on your own.

sound shift said:

Imagine that today is Wednesday. "Next week" starts on Sunday or Monday.

We don't say "

in next week

" or "

within next week

". For an unspecified day next week, we can say "some time next week" or "one day next week". Some time next week/One day next week, I'll have to plant out my broad bean seedlings.

"

Before next week

" is possible. Try to finish that job before next week.

"

After next week

" is possible. After next week, you'll be on your own.

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Thanks a lot
Sorry, when talking about past, Is "the next week" only correct, please?
"They intended to go there next week. And next week, they went"

taraa said:

Sorry, when talking about past, Is "the next week" only correct, please?
"They intended to go there next week. And next week, they went"

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Neither of your sentences is possible, I'm afraid. I would say "They intended to go there the following week, and they did".