What Part of Speech is “Last”?

The English language is known for its flexibility, and many words serve multiple grammatical purposes depending on how they are used in a sentence. One such word is “last.” While it appears simple at first glance, its grammatical role shifts based on the context in which it’s used. In this blog post, we will explore the different functions of “last”—primarily as a determiner and an adjective—with clear explanations, sentence examples, and helpful tables.

Overview: Multiple Roles of “Last”

The word “last” can take on multiple parts of speech. Primarily, it functions as:

• A determiner (e.g., the last train)
  
• An adjective (e.g., his last attempt)
  
• An adverb (e.g., She arrived last) – not covered in depth here
  
• A noun (e.g., At last!) – less common and not our focus here
  

For this article, we will focus on the two most frequent and practical uses: “last” as a determiner and “last” as an adjective. Understanding these distinctions can significantly improve your grammar skills, particularly in writing and reading comprehension.

“Last” as a Determiner

Determiners are words placed in front of nouns to clarify what the noun refers to. When “last” is used as a determiner, it helps specify which one of something we’re referring to, usually meaning the final one in a sequence or the most recent one.

Use in Sentences

When functioning as a determiner, “last” typically precedes a noun and defines its position in time or order.

Examples:

Common Examples

Here are some common phrases using “last” as a determiner:

These examples emphasize “last” as a pointer, narrowing the scope to something specific and final.

Position in a Sentence

When used as a determiner, “last” generally appears before the noun it modifies and sometimes is preceded by an article like “the.”

Position Table:

It’s important to note that while determiners come before nouns, they usually cannot be used independently—they must modify something.

“Last” as an Adjective

Adjectives modify or describe nouns. When “last” is used as an adjective, it still implies finality or recentness but focuses more on describing the noun’s status rather than defining its specific place in time or sequence.

When is “Last” an Adjective?

“Last” acts as an adjective when it describes the characteristics of a noun by showing that it is final in order, position, or time.

Examples:

Attributive Use

“Last” as an adjective is attributive, meaning it appears directly before the noun it modifies, not after it.

Examples of Attributive Adjective Use:

“Last” in these cases functions similarly to other descriptive adjectives like final, recent, or ultimate, and helps paint a clearer picture of the noun’s nature.

Sentence Examples

Here are more detailed examples showing “last” functioning as an adjective:

1. The last apple on the tree was rotten.
   – “Last” modifies “apple,” indicating it was the final one left.
   
2. During his last attempt, he broke the record.
   – “Last” adds detail to “attempt,” implying it followed previous ones.
   
3. She made her last appearance on the show in 2023.
   – “Last” enriches “appearance” with information about timing.
   

Position and Agreement

In English, adjectives don’t change form based on gender or number, but their position relative to nouns and determiners is crucial. “Last” always precedes the noun it modifies and follows any article or possessive pronoun.

Sentence Structure Table:

“Last” doesn’t take comparative or superlative forms like “lastest” or “laster.” It is absolute—something is either last or it isn’t.

Comparison: Determiner vs. Adjective

To clarify the distinction between “last” as a determiner and as an adjective, here’s a comparative table:

“Last” as an Adverb

In addition to serving as a determiner and an adjective, “last” can function as an adverb, often to indicate time or sequence. When used in this way, it modifies verbs, giving information about when something happened or in what order events occurred.

Adverb of Time

One of the most common uses of “last” as an adverb is to indicate time, particularly in reference to the previous instance of something.

Examples:

In these cases, “last” modifies the time expression and tells us when something took place. Although it often appears as part of a larger time phrase, “last” itself is functioning adverbially because it gives time-related information about the verb (e.g., “saw,” “met,” “visited”).

Adverb of Sequence

“Last” can also be used to indicate sequence or order—specifically, that something occurred after everything else.

Examples:

Here, “last” directly modifies the verb by showing when the action occurred in relation to others.

Word Order and Placement

When “last” is used as an adverb, its position in a sentence is somewhat flexible, but clarity and standard word order should be maintained.

Placement Guidelines:

Generally, adverbial “last” appears after the main verb or at the end of the sentence. It can also appear at the beginning if it’s part of a time phrase used for emphasis.

Common Mistakes

While “last” as an adverb is typically straightforward, common errors occur when its placement confuses readers or when it is incorrectly used as another part of speech.

Being mindful of sentence clarity helps ensure “last” is used appropriately.

“Last” as a Verb

Though far less common, “last” can be used as a verb. In this case, it refers to the duration of time something continues.

Meaning and Usage

When used as a verb, “last” means:

• To continue for a period of time
  
• To endure or remain functional
  

Examples:

In these cases, “last” conveys temporal continuation, often with abstract or non-countable subjects like relationships, events, or products.

Forms and Tenses

Like regular verbs, “last” can be conjugated into different tenses. It follows the typical rules of regular verbs:

Placement in a Sentence

As a main verb, “last” follows typical English word order: Subject + Verb + (Object/Complement)

Structure Examples:

“Last” as a verb is intransitive, meaning it typically doesn’t take a direct object (e.g., “The meeting lasted” is correct, not “The meeting lasted two hours of discussion.” unless clarified).

Summary Table: “Last” by Part of Speech

Here’s a concise comparison showing how “last” functions in various grammatical roles.

Conclusion

The word “last” is incredibly versatile, functioning as a determiner, adjective, adverb, and even a verb depending on context. Identifying its role in a sentence is all about recognizing what it modifies and where it’s placed:

• If “last” identifies something → it’s a determiner.
  
• If it describes a noun → it’s an adjective.
  
• If it modifies a verb to show time or sequence → it’s an adverb.
  
• If it acts as the main action (to continue) → it’s a verb.
  

By paying attention to word order, sentence structure, and function, you can master the different grammatical uses of “last” with confidence. Whether you’re writing, editing, or learning English grammar, understanding words like “last” enriches both clarity and precision in communication.

Mangesh Belekar

Belekar Sir is the founder and lead instructor at Belekar Sir’s Academy, a trusted name in English language education. With over a decade of teaching experience, he has helped thousands of students—from beginners to advanced learners—develop fluency, confidence, and real-world communication skills. Known for his practical teaching style and deep understanding of learner needs, Belekar Sir is passionate about making English accessible and empowering for everyone. When he’s not teaching, he’s creating resources and guides to support learners on their journey to mastering spoken English.