Grammar: "Last" vs "To Last"

by Awad
(sheffield, the uk)

What is difference between last, the last?

Comments for Grammar: "Last" vs "To Last"

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Nov 22, 2011
 Ola Zur
by: Answer

Generally, if you are talking about a definite (particular) thing you should use "the."

For example, in the sentence "It's the last house on the left," you are talking about a particular house. So you should use THE.

There are exceptions to this, though. For example, when you use MY, YOUR, etc:
"This is your last chance."

Now, when you are talking about time, you don't use THE LAST.

Examples:
We saw them last night.
Did you work on last Tuesday?
Last month was a tough one.
We moved in last summer.
They bought the house last year.

Click here to learn about the English grammar articles (a, an, the).

Ola Zur is the editor of www.really-learn-english.com, an illustrated guide to English.
Nov 08, 2011
 Last vs The last
by: Anonymous

When do we say last, as in I saw her last week, and when do we say the last, as in I think that the last time I spoke to them was when I was in Lisbon?
Dec 17, 2010
 Last...
by: Ola Zur

Hi,

I'm actually not sure what you me exactly , but I'll try to guess :)

Last (adjective) = happening/coming after all the others.
For example: I've missed the last bus, now I have to walk home.

Last (verb) = to continue for a particular time.
For example: The interview lasted a few minutes.

I hope this was what you meant. If not, let me know in the comments :)

Ola Zur is the editor of www.really-learn-english.com, an illustrated guide to English.

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