When is 'next Thursday'?

[bertietheblue]

If it's Sunday and I say 'I'm meeting her next Thursday', do you understand this to mean 'this Thursday' or 'a week on Thursday'?

And what if it's Monday?

And do you think all native speakers would be clear what is meant?

 

[Teia]

If it's Sunday and I say 'I'm meeting her next Thursday', do you understand this to mean 'this Thursday' or 'a week on Thursday'?

And what if it's Monday?

And do you think all native speakers would be clear what is meant?

Hi

I think I can understand your point. This kind of things happen in all languages, or so I think. In Romanian, for example, if you don`t understand which Thursday one refers to, you ask: which Thursday? This one, this week, or the one [ Thursday ] next week?

 

[bertietheblue]

Hi

I think I can understand your point. This kind of things happen in all languages, or so I think. In Romanian, for example, if you don`t understand which Thursday one refers to, you ask: which Thursday? This one, this week, or the one [ Thursday ] next week?

I was thinking that about English: is it best not to say 'next Thursday' if it's a Sunday or indeed a Monday as you'll only be asked, "Do you mean this Thursday or the Thursday after?"?

 

[Teia]

I was thinking that about English: is it best not to say 'next Thursday' if it's a Sunday or indeed a Monday as you'll only be asked, "Do you mean this Thursday or the Thursday after?"?

I`d say `next Thursday`if it`s Sunday [ a new week is coming], and `this Thursday` if it`s Monday or Tuesday [ another week has already come]. I`m not sure if this is correct but I feel I have to use them this way.

 

[bertietheblue]

I`d say `next Thursday`if it`s Sunday [ a new week is coming], and `this Thursday` if it`s Monday or Tuesday [ another week has already come]. I`m not sure if this is correct but I feel I have to use them this way.

That's how it should be, I think, but in practice, would someone wake up on Monday and use different language to talk about the same Thursday?

 

[billmcd]

My preferences:
If it's Sunday, Monday or Tuesday: I'm meeting her Thursday (or this Thursday).
If it's Wednesday: I'm meeting her tomorrow.

 

[Raymott]

If it's Sunday and I say 'I'm meeting her next Thursday', do you understand this to mean 'this Thursday' or 'a week on Thursday'?

And what if it's Monday?

And do you think all native speakers would be clear what is meant?

Hi Bertie,
No, all native speakers do not understand this in the same way.
This has been extensively discussed here.
Search for thread titles of "next Saturday", etc. and you'll get everyone's opinion.