Would you accept this answer?

[riceball72]

Hi
I am hoping someone can give me some pointers on this. Basically, the second answer sounds strange to me, but I am not sure if it is grammatically incorrect or just something I am not that familiar with (haven't heard much).

The text in the story is as follows:
A few days later, the girls wrote a letter of invitation to Clara's grandmother. They asked her to come the following week.

Question:
What did Clara and Heidi ask Clara's grandmother to do?

Possible answers:
1. Clara and Heidi asked her (Clara's grandmother) to come the following week.

2. Clara and Heidi asked her (Clara's grandmother) to come the next week.

In this context I want to write 'to come next week' - but the time frame seems wrong.

However, I can not think of a reason why we use 'the following' but that in this situation 'the next' seems very strange.

Can anyone explain this?

smiles
riceball

[MikeNewYork]

Hi
I am hoping someone can give me some pointers on this. Basically, the second answer sounds strange to me, but I am not sure if it is grammatically incorrect or just something I am not that familiar with (haven't heard much).

The text in the story is as follows:
A few days later, the girls wrote a letter of invitation to Clara's grandmother. They asked her to come the following week.

Question:
What did Clara and Heidi ask Clara's grandmother to do?

Possible answers:
1. Clara and Heidi asked her (Clara's grandmother) to come the following week.

2. Clara and Heidi asked her (Clara's grandmother) to come the next week.

In this context I want to write 'to come next week' - but the time frame seems wrong.

However, I can not think of a reason why we use 'the following' but that in this situation 'the next' seems very strange.

Can anyone explain this?

smiles
riceball

To me, both phrases have the same meaning. That said, I don't know why you wouldn't use the phrase that is used in the text.

[riceball72]

Thanks for the reply Mike. My sentiments exactly, but that point is where there seems to be a major difference between my way of thinking (or possible a western way of thinking) and the rest of my team (japanese way of thinking!).

I know they mean the same thing, I guess I just haven't seen 'the next' used in this context that often so it sounds strange to me.

smiles
riceball

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks for the reply Mike. My sentiments exactly, but that point is where there seems to be a major difference between my way of thinking (or possible a western way of thinking) and the rest of my team (japanese way of thinking!).

I know they mean the same thing, I guess I just haven't seen 'the next' used in this context that often so it sounds strange to me.

smiles
riceball

Part of learning a language is being exposed to a lot of variety, hopefully correct variety. English, like many languages, has many ways to say the same thing.

He came the next week.
He came the following week.