My friend asked me this, and it got me thinking for a moment. I'll post the question here.

Poll: When I say "last July", do you understand me to mean this year's or last year's July?

For FoLCs who know their grammar inside out, I have one more question: Which is the more technically correct answer?


metwin1

I'm not a native English speaker, but that's how I get it:

From August 2003 to July 2004: Last July = July 2003.
From August 2004 to July 2005: Last July = July 2004.

And so on.

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

Last July, for me, would be July 2003. "We went on that trip to Fife last July."

If I was talking about July 2004, I'd simply say something like, "We went on that trip to Fife in July."

LabRat

IMHO, 'Last July' would be the last July that has completely passed. Once it's completely over, it's 'Last July.'

As of August 1, 2004, 'Last July' was July 2004.

Ditto LabRat. That's exactly how I would interpret it.

- Laura

Last and next are notorious words in these contexts. My mother had a stamp convention to go to in Cincinnati. "Next weekend," she says on Monday the 9th. Meaning the weekend of the 22-23, because the 14-15 was "this weekend." Come thursday the 12th, she says, "Remember that convention next weekend? It's this weekend. I'm going to Cincinnati tomorrow."

The lesson is that when you're using this/next/last in these contexts, and you need to be sure, ask for the date!!! :p

I, personally, would say, today, August 15th, 2004, that last July is July of 2003. If I'm referring to July of 2004, I'd say simpy "July" or sometimes "Last month." I would rarely say "this July" (right now) because, for me at least, "this" is usually indicative of future.

(Although, sometimes not.

"I went to California in July."

"This July?"

"Yes, this July. As in last month, a couple weeks ago, can't you tell by my non-existent tan how recent it was, this July." )

My two-cents.

Bethy