I heard this at Blockbuster Video over the weekend.
Problem:
The phrase “on next Sunday” did not sound right.
Explanation:
My wife and I were renting a DVD at a local Blockbuster Video store last Saturday evening.
Blockbuster has a seven-day return policy.
I was expecting the Blockbuster sales clerk to say one of the following:
- “The DVD is due on Sunday, June 29.”
- “The DVD is due next Sunday.”
So when I heard her say, “The DVD is due on next Sunday,” I was taken aback and began to wonder why “on next Sunday” was incorrect.
Here is what I realized:
- The clerk wanted to say when the DVD was due.
- Saying when is equivalent to modifying the verb “due” with an adverb or adverbial phrase.
- “Sunday” is a noun.
- One can combine the preposition “on” with the noun “Sunday” to get an adverbial phrase that says when.
- The phrase “next Sunday” is already an adverbial phrase because it says when.
- Therefore, it is a mistake to combine the preposition “on” with the adverbial phrase “next Sunday” in an attempt to get an adverbial phrase.
Solution:
“The DVD is due next Sunday.”