The placement of the French adjectives prochain and dernier can change the meaning and emphasis of the sentence. These adjectives can be placed either before or after the noun they modify, but their placement alters the meaning.
French Adjectives Prochain and Dernier Before and After Nouns
La prochaine année vs L’année prochaine:
- La prochaine année: “the following year” or “the next year,” referring to the year that comes after the current one.
- L’année prochaine: “next year,” indicating the specific year that follows the present year.
La dernière année vs L’année dernière:
- La dernière année: “the final year” or “the last year,” indicating the most recent or concluding year of a specific period.
- L’année dernière: “last year,” referring to the year that immediately precedes the present year.
Le prochain jour vs Le jour prochain:
- Le prochain jour: “the following day” or “the next day,” referring to the day that comes after the current one.
- Le jour prochain: “the upcoming day” or “the soon-to-come day,” emphasizing the proximity or expectation of the specific day.
Le dernier jour vs Le jour dernier:
- Le dernier jour: “the final day” or “the last day,” indicating the most recent or concluding day of a particular period.
- Le jour dernier: “yesterday” or “the day before today,” referring to the day that immediately precedes the present day.
Le prochain mois vs Le mois prochain:
- Le prochain mois: “the following month” or “the next month,” referring to the month that comes after the current one.
- Le mois prochain: “next month,” indicating the specific month that follows the present month.
Le dernier mois vs Le mois dernier:
- Le dernier mois: “the final month” or “the last month,” indicating the most recent or concluding month of a specific period.
- Le mois dernier: “last month,” referring to the month that immediately precedes the present month.
Le prochain matin vs Le matin prochain:
- Le prochain matin: “the following morning” or “the next morning,” referring to the morning that comes after the current one.
- Le matin prochain: “tomorrow morning,” indicating the specific morning of the following day.
Le dernier matin vs Le matin dernier:
- Le dernier matin: “the final morning” or “the last morning,” indicating the most recent or concluding morning of a particular period.
- Le matin dernier: “yesterday morning” or “the morning before today,” referring to the morning that immediately precedes the present morning.
By placing the French adjectives dernier and prochain before the nouns, we generally indicate a more general and abstract sense of time. When placed after the nouns, dernier and prochain typically provide a more specific and concrete reference to time.
