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Last year vs The last year

Both "last year" and "the last year" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Last year" refers to the year immediately preceding the current one, while "the last year" is used to refer to the most recent complete year. They are not interchangeable.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1388 views

Last year

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Use "last year" to refer to the year immediately preceding the current one. It is a common expression in English.

Examples:

  • I visited Paris last year.
  • Last year was a challenging time for everyone.
  • What did you do last year?
  • She graduated from college last year.
  • Last year's sales figures were impressive.
  • Last year, the Sheppard wedding.
  • Last year, we helped 124,000.
  • Last year, the Lessini Durello appellation turned 30.
  • Last year, approximately 264,000 people underwent lip-plumping surgery.
  • Last year was the biggest year.
  • Last year Djokovic celebrated his victory at 2015 finals.
  • Last year, Schroders acquired a stake in Nutmeg.
  • Last year, company introduced many interesting and amazing handsets.
  • Last year there were 13 million.
  • Last year 9000 jobs were lost in Germany.
  • Last year I graduated from Minsk state linguistic university.
  • Last year Greece expelled 80,000 persons.
  • Last year, a new pattern began to show itself.
  • Last year it was Jason Pierre-Paul's Missing Fingers.
  • Last year a storm swallowed up my husband and daughter.
  • Last year, it was also warm.
  • Last year, Japan imported one million, nine...
  • Last year, I took a more conceptual approach to the valentine.
  • Last year we didn't have one Qatari woman filmmaker.
  • Last year, 47 companies bid on major Homeland Security contracts.

Alternatives:

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

The last year

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

Use "the last year" to refer to the most recent complete year. It is less common than "last year" but still grammatically correct.

Examples:

  • The last year has been full of challenges.
  • I have learned a lot in the last year.
  • The last year of high school is usually stressful.
  • She has made a lot of progress in the last year.
  • The last year's results were outstanding.
  • The last year has seen a considerable increase in the number of human rights dialogues.
  • Somewhere in the last year it would appear they've vanished.
  • The last year has shown that the EU can take important decisions in difficult situations.
  • You know... I've enjoyed the last year.
  • The last year... I have been dreaming, and fantasizing, and in love with Furio.
  • Crime rate's tripled the last year alone.
  • They've tripled their military budget in the last year.
  • Sensei Matta yoga bought 20,000 acres there, all within the last year.
  • Each one is a patient insured by Noble that died within the last year.
  • They're all Noble patients who died within the last year.
  • Our 10th case in the last year.
  • Jamie Kirk... he's been arrested three times in the last year alone.
  • That's more money than you made in the last year.
  • The one stable point in her life for the last year...
  • For the last year, I've tried to find clarity.
  • An anterior cruciate ligament that was repaired in the last year.
  • Luis was an almost constant presence at the house the last year.
  • But I've grown a lot in the last year.
  • I was in Congo for the last year.
  • You performed an autopsy on all four in the last year.

Alternatives:

  • the most recent year
  • the previous year
  • the year that just passed

Related Comparisons

since last year vs since the last year last year vs past year year vs cities are poorly planned year vs it rains through out a year through out a year vs year the next year vs next year

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