last/the last

[ostap77]

What would be the difference between "last class" amd "the last class" as in "We briefly touched on this matter in last class/the last class"?

[emsr2d2]

What would be the difference between "last class" amd "the last class" as in "We briefly touched on this matter in last class/the last class"?

We don't say "We touched on this matter in last class". You are clearly talking about a specific class (the most recent) therefore the definite article is required.

[ostap77]

We don't say "We touched on this matter in last class". You are clearly talking about a specific class (the most recent) therefore the definite article is required.

What if I were talking about the same discipline but it was not the most recent one? I'm having English class and the most recent one was Physics. If I were refering to the last English class on the schedule that was not the most recent class, could I say "last class" as in "for next class"?

[5jj]

I'm having English class and the most recent one was Physics. If I were referring to the last English class on the schedule that was not the most recent class, could I say "last class" as in "for next class"?

Context would normally make it clear whether 'last class' or 'in the last class' referred to the last English class or the most recent class - Physics. 'In last class' is not possible in your sentence, "We briefly touched on this matter last class/in the last class".

Incidentally, we'd be more likely to say '(in the) last lesson' in BrE schools.

[ostap77]

Context would normally make it clear whether 'last class' or 'in the last class' referred to the last English class or the most recent class - Physics. 'In last class' is not possible in your sentence, "We briefly touched on this matter last class/in the last class".

Incidentally, we'd be more likely to say '(in the) last lesson' in BrE schools.

Could you give me an example where I could use "last class"? Would another preposition make a difference?

[5jj]

I did.

[emsr2d2]

If you remove the preposition you can also lose the article. As 5jj said:

We touched on this in the last class.
We touched on this last class.