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last year vs past year

Both 'last year' and 'past year' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Last year' refers to the most recent completed year before the current one, while 'past year' generally refers to any year before the current one, not necessarily the immediately preceding one.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1499 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"last year"

Use 'last year' to refer to the year immediately before the current one. It is used to talk about events, experiences, or situations that occurred in that specific year.

Examples:

  • I traveled to Europe last year.
  • Last year was a challenging time for many people.
  • Became a dermatologist last year, fellas.
  • It was a train derailment last year.
  • Immigration granted them refugee status last year.
  • The following happened in Texarkana last year.
  • For the last year, unemployment.
  • The last year I had anything.
  • A couple pledges got hospitalized last year.
  • We met some lovely young girls banana-boating last year.
  • The village thrashed us last year.
  • The village thrashed us last year.
  • Addyson transferred to Central High last year.
  • Only had it painted last year.
  • Mansfield fired seven guys last year.
  • Literally killed a guy last year.
  • Killed a lot of people in Odessa last year.
  • It started around Christmas last year.
  • He tripped over it last year.
  • His father spent the last year in jail.
  • Also, Grant survived a helicopter crash last year.
  • Flores volunteered for the Female Engagement Team last year.

Alternatives:

  • previous year
  • the year before
  • the year that just passed
  • the year that ended

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in everyday English.

"past year"

Use 'past year' to refer to any year before the current one, not necessarily the immediately preceding one. It is more formal and less commonly used in casual conversation.

Examples:

  • Over the past year, I have learned a lot.
  • The company's performance has improved over the past year.
  • I know I've been missing in action the past year or so.
  • Eight times in the past year alone.
  • This past year with Schmidt's changed me.
  • Credit card says she stayed here one weekend a month for the past year.
  • You've come a long way this past year.
  • In the past year, we have presented 25 special reports.
  • We've been planning these exercises for the past year.
  • Avery regularly advertises in Auto Trader magazine and says Halbach has visited his home on assignment several times in the past year.
  • Certainly, the past year brought you something good.
  • But the past year has made its own mark.
  • Artistic results of the past year.
  • Troy Eli was arrested for petty theft twice in the past year.
  • There are certain precedents, particularly that of the past year.
  • As I said, 2500 Irish schoolteachers undertook development programmes in the past year.
  • In the past year both of these objectives have come under threat.
  • In the past year, the project was awarded the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Award.
  • The past year Rotterdam has grown more quickly in this field regarding the concurrent ports.
  • This past year more than seventy thousand people made the pilgrimage.
  • In the past year important progress was made.
  • Everything I did this past year.

Alternatives:

  • previous year
  • the year before last
  • the year that has gone by
  • the year that has elapsed

Related Comparisons

"Last year" vs "the past year" "since last year" vs "since the last year" "last 1 year" vs "past 1 year" "Last year" vs "The last year" "from last year" vs "from the last year" "the next year" vs "next year"

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