Mastering "on the following Monday": A Simple Grammar Guide

Do you ever get confused about specifying a future date, especially when looking back from a past event? English has many subtle ways to express time. One such phrase is "on the following Monday." This adverbial phrase of time helps describe when an action took place relative to a past reference point. Understanding its meaning and how to use adverbial phrases like this one naturally will significantly improve your fluency in English. Let's learn English grammar together and make this phrase part of your natural sentence use.

Table of Contents

• What Does "on the following Monday" Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "on-the-following-monday"
• Example Sentences with "on the following Monday"
• When and How to Use "on the following Monday"
• Summary and Practice Tip

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What Does "on the following Monday" Mean?

The phrase "on the following Monday" means "on the Monday after a specific event or date that has just been mentioned." It's used to refer to a particular Monday in the near future from a past perspective. This adverbial phrase helps to describe when an action or event happened. It modifies a verb, telling you precisely when something occurred.

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What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "on the following Monday"?

"On the following Monday" is an adverbial phrase of time. It tells us when something happens. This type of phrase is crucial for describing events in sequence.

Its grammatical structure breaks down like this:

• On: A preposition of time.
• the following: An adjective phrase indicating succession or the next one in a series. "Following" here acts like a determiner, specifying which Monday.
• Monday: A noun, the specific day of the week.

This phrase typically describes when and where events occur. It often appears at the beginning or end of a sentence. This affects the sentence structure and emphasis.

Sample sentence patterns using "on the following Monday":

• Subject + Verb + [Adverbial Phrase]: We met for coffee on the following Monday.
• [Adverbial Phrase], Subject + Verb: On the following Monday, the report was submitted.

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Example Sentences with "on the following Monday"

Here are some natural examples to help you understand how to use this phrase. Pay attention to how it fits into the flow of the sentence.

• The team decided to reschedule the meeting for on the following Monday after the initial one was canceled.
• She submitted her application on Friday. She received an interview invitation on the following Monday.

Here are some short dialogues:

• Person A: "Did you hear about the decision from last Friday's board meeting?"

• Person B: "Yes, the official announcement was released on the following Monday."

• Person A: "When did you finally get the test results?"

• Person B: "They promised them by Friday, but I only got them on the following Monday."

When and How to Use "on the following Monday"

You will typically use "on the following Monday" when you are talking about a past event and then refer to a Monday that occurred after that past event. It's common in storytelling, reports, or when explaining a sequence of past actions. This adverbial phrase is quite versatile and fits well into both formal and informal situations, such as emails, speech, or giving instructions related to past timelines.

Consider these usage tips to avoid common mistakes or confusion:

• Specificity: This phrase specifies a particular Monday in a sequence. It implies a previous reference point.
• Related phrases: While "next Monday" refers to the upcoming Monday from the current speaking moment, this phrase always looks back from a past event. You might also hear "the Monday after that" used more informally.
• Common mistake: A common error is confusing it with "last Monday" (the Monday before now) or "next Monday." Remember, "following" implies a progression from a mentioned past event. For instance, if you say, "We had a meeting on Tuesday, and the contract was signed on the following Monday," it means the Monday after that Tuesday.
• Preposition: Always use "on" with specific days of the week. According to Cambridge Dictionary, we use "on" with days of the week.

Summary and Practice Tip

In summary, "on the following Monday" is a useful adverbial phrase of time. It helps you describe when an event occurred relative to a past reference point. It consists of on + the following + Monday and modifies verbs to add precision to your sentences. Mastering its use will help you achieve greater fluency in English.

Ready to put what you've learned into practice? Try writing your own sentence using "on the following Monday". Think about a time you had an event, and then something else happened on the Monday after it. Share your sentence in the comments below! If you found this guide helpful, explore our other articles on English grammar help and how to use adverbial phrases to further enhance your skills.