Last year vs the past year

Both "last year" and "the past year" are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They refer to the year immediately preceding the current one. The choice between the two depends on personal preference or the specific context in which they are used.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 2608 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to the year immediately preceding the current one.

"Last year "

Use "last year" when referring to the year that just ended, for example, "I traveled to Europe last year."

Examples:

Last year was a challenging time for many people.
I graduated from college last year.
We went on a family vacation last year.
She got promoted last year.
Last year's sales exceeded our expectations.

Show examples from the web [+]

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 year that ended
the year that concluded

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to the year immediately preceding the current one.

"the past year"

Use "the past year" when referring to the year that just ended, for example, "A lot has changed in the past year."

Examples:

The past year has been full of surprises.
I've learned a lot in the past year.
She has made significant progress in the past year.
We have faced many challenges in the past year.
The company has grown steadily over the past year.

Show examples from the web [+]

I know I've been missing in action the past year or so.
Eight times in the past year alone.
The human rights situation in China has greatly deteriorated in the past year.
Within the past year, similar incidents happened half a dozen times.
Credit card says she stayed here one weekend a month for the past year.
In the past year, we have presented 25 special reports.
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.
Troy Eli was arrested for petty theft twice in 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.
Very active in the past year were marketing departments.
In the past year important progress was made.
Secondly, the past year has seen important developments concerning civil/military relations.
Much has happened in the past year.
You know, all that turmoil was suppressed for the past year.
They've all gone missing in the past year.
I found one that's been busted twice in the past year for selling illegal firearms.

Alternatives:

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

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Last year vs the past year

"Last year "

"the past year"

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