"in last year" vs. "last year"

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #203 [color=blue]“Prepositions of Time and Date (1)”, question 5

… last year, the weather was really bad. This year, the forecast is better.

(a) In
(b) (none)
(c) About

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #203 [color=blue]“Prepositions of Time and Date (1)”, answer 5

Last year, the weather was really bad. This year, the forecast is better.

Correct answer: (b) (none)

Your answer was: [color=red]incorrect
In last year, the weather was really bad. This year, the forecast is better.
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

Dear Sir

why not “in last year” here?

thanks a lot in advance

Christina’s son

2

Such adverbs of time as"last night",“last year”,"last month"and etc.are used without any preposition.

3

Hi Christina’s son,
I agree with Pamela that words such as “next, this or last” - when used with “time” - indicate that no preposition is necessary.
So, when you see something like “this month, last year, next week,” you don’t need a preposition before it.
However, Pamela, I don’t think that words such as ‘this, last and next’ are adverbs of time but rather adjectives because "year’ is a noun and not a verb. :slight_smile:
I hope that helps.
Linda

4

Linda,when analyising a sentence according to the parts of sentence “last month”, “last year” (etc.)stand for adverbial modifiers of time and according to parts of speech,they’re adverbs.These adverbs are considered as a single idea while analysing.
Anyway I’d like to know Amy’s opinion!

5

Hi Pamela,

I’d agree with you that “time phrases” such as ‘last year’, ‘next month’, etc. would be considered adverbial.

Amy

6

Thanks a lot,Amy !