next
next — adjective
- nextpositive
- nextercomparative
- nextestsuperlative
1. the one that comes straight after the current person, thing, or moment in a seri
the one that comes straight after the current person, thing, or moment in a series or period of time
The next train to Taipei leaves at half past nine.
always before a noun: next + noun
Christopher turned to the next page and read for another hour.
Our next meeting will be on Monday morning at the main office.
Take the next left turn after the petrol station on this road.
Who will be the next team captain after Yara moves away?
- following
more formal; used especially in writing and schedules
- subsequent
formal; used mainly in academic or official contexts
- upcoming
refers to something expected or planned in the near future
文法句型
next + noun
用法筆記
Always placed directly before the noun it describes. Cannot be used with 'than' (unlike 'later' or 'older').
常見錯誤
next — adverb
1. after the present moment, event, or action in a sequence
after the present moment, event, or action in a sequence
What happened next surprised everyone in the room.
position after the subject or at the start of a clause
Nora finished her homework and next helped her little brother.
The instructions next tell you to press the green button.
Next, we will look at the results of the science experiment.
Heloísa poured the milk and next added two spoons of sugar.
- then
more common in everyday speech; slightly less precise about immediacy
- afterwards
focuses on the time after, not necessarily the very next step
- subsequently
formal; used in academic or business writing
- previously
before the current moment in a sequence
- first
at the beginning of a sequence
文法句型
next + verb
Next, + clause
2. the first occasion after now when a repeated action happens again
the first occasion after now when a repeated action happens again
When I next see Lan, I will return the book she lent me.
pattern: when + subject + next + verb
Next time you visit Taipei, try the beef noodle soup.
collocation: next time
When you next cook pasta, add some fresh basil for flavour.
Asher promised to bring his camera when he next comes over.
文法句型
next + verb (present simple)
next time + subject + verb
用法筆記
Often used with the present simple tense even when referring to a future time: 'When you next see her…' not 'When you will next see her…'
常見錯誤
3. positioned very close to something or someone, with no other person or thing in
positioned very close to something or someone, with no other person or thing in between
The bakery is next to the post office on Main Street.
pattern: next to + noun for location
Adaeze sat next to Caio during the biology lecture.
The old oak tree stands next to the small stone bridge.
Iris parked her bicycle right next to the library entrance.
- beside
slightly more formal; equally common
- alongside
suggests a longer or parallel position
- adjacent to
formal; used in technical or official descriptions
文法句型
next to + noun phrase
常見錯誤
4. used in comparisons to show what comes after something else in order of preferen
used in comparisons to show what comes after something else in order of preference, importance, or degree
Next to swimming, Linh enjoys cycling the most.
pattern: next to + noun + [subject] + verb most
Next to Tokyo, Osaka is the city I know best in Japan.
Next to her grandmother, Hui is the tallest in her family.
Next to maths, biology is Sahil's favourite subject at school.
文法句型
next to + noun (when comparing)
用法筆記
This sense always uses 'next to' and is followed by the thing that is ranked first. The main subject of the sentence is the second-ranked item.
5. almost entirely or very nearly; used before adjectives that describe a complete
almost entirely or very nearly; used before adjectives that describe a complete state to soften their meaning
The old suitcase was next to empty when Folake opened it.
pattern: next to + adjective (empty)
It is next to impossible to finish this puzzle in ten minutes.
collocation: next to impossible
After the long walk, the children were next to exhausted.
Finding a parking spot here at noon is next to impossible.
文法句型
next to + adjective
next to + impossible/useless/impossible/empty
用法筆記
Only used with a small set of absolute or extreme adjectives such as 'impossible', 'useless', 'empty', 'invisible', 'certain'. Does not work with gradable adjectives ('next to tall' is not idiomatic).
常見錯誤
6. who or what will appear, perform, or be presented next in a show, programme, or
who or what will appear, perform, or be presented next in a show, programme, or event
Next up is a song by a young singer from Brazil.
pattern: Next up, + noun phrase
Who is next to speak at the conference this afternoon?
The news is next after this short advertisement break.
Amira is next on stage with her dance group from Nairobi.
文法句型
Next up, + noun phrase
next + to appear/perform
next — noun
1. the person or thing that comes after the current one in a line, series, or queue
the person or thing that comes after the current one in a line, series, or queue
The nurse looked up from her desk and called: 'The next, please.'
used as a noun with 'the'
Each dancer at the contest performed better than the next.
I finished my exam and waited for the next to begin.
The next in line was a woman holding a sleeping baby.
- previous one
the person or thing before the current one
- last one
the final item or person in a series
文法句型
the next
the next in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always preceded by 'the'. Cannot be pluralised ('the nexts' is incorrect). To refer to multiple people, say 'the next ones' or 'the next people.'
常見錯誤
next — preposition
1. at the side of something or someone, touching or very close to it
at the side of something or someone, touching or very close to it
Pedro placed his coffee cup next to the computer keyboard.
prepositional phrase for location
A small wooden bench sits next to the garden pond.
Emre always keeps a notebook next to his bed for ideas.
The cat curled up next to the warm fireplace in winter.
文法句型
next to + noun phrase
用法筆記
In modern English this sense always appears as the two-word preposition 'next to.' The standalone form 'next' (e.g. 'next the door') is considered old-fashioned or literary.