for the weekend

[bmo]

We can't come to your party because we are going to be in Athens, Greece for the weekend.

1. If you are in the U.S., "for the weekend" means you are going there for 2-3 days and come back. Correct?

2. It also means this coming weekend. Correct?

3. If you are going to be travelling in Greece, including a visit to Athen on that particular weekend, or if you are going to Athen first, then stay for a few more days visiting other places, you should say, "We can't come to the party because we are going to be in Athen, Greece on that weekend." Correct?

Thanks.

BMO

[Red5]

1. If you are in the U.S., "for the weekend" means you are going there for 2-3 days and come back. Correct?

2. It also means this coming weekend. Correct?

1. Correct. In this case it means "For the duration of the weekend".

2. Incorrect (IMO). In this case one would use "this weekend".

I'll leave the others to answer #3 and comment on my notes.

[RonBee]

I would say that you are right on all counts. (In AE, for the weekend generally does refer to the coming weekend ("next weekend") unless a specific date is mentioned.

:)

[Red5]

Actually I will withdraw my objection to #2.

Sorry, it';s hard sometimes to place examples in the correct context.

Thanks to Ron for pointing that out!

[RonBee]

No problem.

:wink:

[bmo]

Thank you all.

This brings out an old question, what is next weekend. Is next weekend the same as the coming weekend? I think they are not the same.

The coming weekend is the weekend coming immediately following today. If today is Thursday, the coming weekend is from this Friday night - Sunday. However, next weekend will be the weekend of the following week. Next indicates next week, about 8-9 days later. Correct?

BMO

[MikeNewYork]

Thank you all.

This brings out an old question, what is next weekend. Is next weekend the same as the coming weekend? I think they are not the same.

The coming weekend is the weekend coming immediately following today. If today is Thursday, the coming weekend is from this Friday night - Sunday. However, next weekend will be the weekend of the following week. Next indicates next week, about 8-9 days later. Correct?

BMO

I would not use the words that way. It will only cause confusion. For me, on Thursday, "next weekend" may be in 8 days, but how about on Tuesday?

[bmo]

In 10 days.

It is confusing. This weekend is this week's weekend; next weekend is next week's weekend. Next weekend is not the next one coming up, but next week's weekend. (Next is confusing.) BMO

[MikeNewYork]

In 10 days.

It is confusing. This weekend is this week's weekend; next weekend is next week's weekend. Next weekend is not the next one coming up, but next week's weekend. (Next is confusing.) BMO

Not everyone agrees with that. Many see "next weekend" as "the next weekend", i.e. the weekend coming up.

[bmo]

Very interesting. Below is from the American Heritage Dictionary:

Next, coming directly after in time or sequence; immediately succeeding: next Monday; the next president. (you are right here.)

Two co-workers, both native speakers, said next weekend is next week's weekend.

Thanks.

BMO