"last Monday" and "on Monday last"

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Irene Sung

#300762 Tue, 05 Dec 06 10:27 AM

What is the difference between "Mary was sick last Monday." and "Mary was sick on Monday last"?

Is the second "last" an adverb?

Irene Sung

Joined on Mon, Nov 27 2006

Taiwan

New Member (06)

Adverbs, Difference between, Verbs

Mister Micawber

#300764 Tue, 05 Dec 06 10:29 AM

No difference in meaning. The second last appears to be a postmodifying adjective-- a rather dated position for this adjective.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (20,419)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Tidus

#300765 Tue, 05 Dec 06 10:36 AM

1) "Mary was sick last Monday"

2) "Mary was sick on Monday"

3) "Mary was sick Monday last"

In the UK these have slight differences depending on where you live.

1) means that Mary was sick, not on the Monday of the current week, but the Monday of the previous week.

2) means that Mary was sick on the Monday of the current week.

3) means the same as 1) although I don't hear very many people phrase it like that. 1) & 2) are most common. Note that we wouldn't usually say "on" monday last - just 'monday last'.

Tidus

Joined on Mon, Nov 27 2006

England

Full Member (360)