uses of the

1. 'NEXT' AND 'LAST'
there is a difference in meaning and use between next and the next and last and
the last. Compare the following:
 I will be working for the next week and then I shall be on holiday. ( =
starting now for the next five or seven days)
 I will do some work next week before I go on holiday. ( = some work, but
not every day)
 I’m going to have driving lessons next year. ( = at some point during the
year)
 For the next twelve months I will be in Birmingham on a post-graduate
course. ( = all 12 months, starting now)
 The last year has been hell! First the divorce, then I lost my job! ( = all 12
months up till now)
 I got divorced last year. ( = at some point during the year)
 I’ve had a sore throat for the last week, doctor. Can you give me
something for it?
 I had a sore throat last week. I couldn’t speak for two days.
Note prepositional use and the use of the present perfect and past simple tenses in
the above examples.
HOME, SCHOOL, WORK,...
With school, university, prison, hospital, church, bed, work and home we
use the when we are talking about a particular one, and zero article when we are
talking about the idea of school, university...
 The church on our street was built in the 17th Century.
a particular church
 I go to church every Sunday.
the idea of church, not a particular building
 My friend works at the prison outside the city centre.
 My husband is in prison.
 The work isn't finished yet.
 I was feeling sick yesterday so I didn't go to work.
 The new bed is bigger than the old one.
 I put my children to bed a 8pm.