Learn English – It is time for “a next step” or “the next step”
articlesword-choice
Which form is proper: it is time for "a next step" or "the next step"?
Best Answer
Both forms are grammatical.
It is unlikely that someone would say "it's time for a next step". We can see the relative prevalence of each phrase in a Google ngram:
As is clear, Google has found approximately no authors that have ever written "time for a next step".
The is used over a primarily because "the next step" is a set phrase, but also because in a plan that has several steps, the next step is a specific one, so the definite article is used.
Next in this usage is better regarded as a determiner rather than as an adjective. ( http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/next ) (compare last year, this year). The use of another definite determiner (the) is thus superfluous. However, this does not apply with following, present, and previous, where the definite article is needed to pre-modify:
I wanted to start planning for the following year.
I'd guess that following etc are behaving more like adjectives, so there needs to be a definite determiner (the definite article) added. Next grades into adjectivalness, so the definite article is an option. With this, the adjectival component does not exist, so we can't say for the this year.
I am graduating from college soon. That means, I will be stepping into the job market.
I am thinking of interning for free in my local town office. That would be a step in the job market, that would give me credible experience to lift me towards higher steps in my career.
However, I am concerned that politics are in the way towards economic recovery. Those irresponsible politicians and their financial backers do not realise they are stepping on the job market crushing our hopes of ever having reasonable employment.
Best Answer
Both forms are grammatical.
It is unlikely that someone would say "it's time for a next step". We can see the relative prevalence of each phrase in a Google ngram:
As is clear, Google has found approximately no authors that have ever written "time for a next step".
The is used over a primarily because "the next step" is a set phrase, but also because in a plan that has several steps, the next step is a specific one, so the definite article is used.