Look at these examples:
La semaine dernière, je suis allée skier.
Last week, I went skiing.
Pendant la dernière semaine de mes exams, je suis tombé malade.
During the final week of my exams, I got sick.
Les derniers jours de l'année sont toujours plus courts.
The last days of the year are always shorter.
Les jours derniers, j'étais un peu malade.
These last days, I was a bit ill.
Dernier/Dernière means last/previous when it comes after the noun, but last (ever)/final if it comes before the noun.
Note that as an adjective, dernier agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to.
Special case of la fois dernière / la dernière fois = (the) last time
To express last time (previous)
When last time is used on its own, you can use either la fois dernière or la dernière fois indifferently in French,
BUT
When last time is followed by a clause (last time I saw you), you can only use la dernière fois, and never la fois dernière.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la fois dernière.
You were still with Stéphane last time.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la dernière fois.
You were still with Stéphane last time.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la dernière fois que je t'ai vue.
You were still with Stéphane last time I saw you.
To express the last time (final)
You always use la dernière fois .
See also:
Ancien = former / old (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Cher= dear / expensive (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Certain = specific / sure (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Propre = own / clean (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Vrai = real / true (adjectives that change meaning according to position)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
La semaine dernière, je suis allée skier.
Last week, I went skiing.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la dernière fois.
You were still with Stéphane last time.
Les jours derniers, j'étais un peu malade.
These last days, I was a bit ill.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la fois dernière.
You were still with Stéphane last time.
C'est la dernière fois que je t'amène avec moi !
This is the last time I take you with me!
Les derniers jours de l'année sont toujours plus courts.
The last days of the year are always shorter.
Prends-moi sur tes épaules ! -D'accord, mais c'est la dernière fois.
Take me on your shoulders! -OK, but this is the last time.
Pendant la dernière semaine de mes exams, je suis tombé malade.
During the final week of my exams, I got sick.
Tu étais encore avec Stéphane la dernière fois que je t'ai vue.
You were still with Stéphane last time I saw you.
Loading your KwizQ&A
Chris
Kwiziq community member
19/01/18
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Lisa
Kwiziq community member
6 July 2017
1 reply
So this is the most confusing ever! Is it this:
Lisa
Kwiziq community member
6/07/17
Kenneth
Kwiziq community member
3 January 2017
2 replies
So "la fois dernière" and "la dernière fois" are interchangeable
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
3/01/17
They are interchangeable when used on their own (meaning without a "que" clause) and only to mean "last time".
To express "the last time" (i.e. no more time after this), you can only use "la dernière fois".
I hope that's helpful!
Bonne Année !
Jane
Kwiziq community member
13/02/18
"C'était la dernière fois que tu m'as dit que tu m'aimais."
The answer choices are:
It was last time that you told me you loved me.
It was the last time you told me you loved me.
In English, these sentences have the same meaning. So the quiz should be rewritten to provide an answer that it's the FINAL time. As is, there is no distinction between the two sentences.
Michael
Kwiziq community member
8 February 2018
1 reply
Dernière fois que
Un quizz demande traduire "C'était la dernière fois que tu m'as dit que tu m'aimais." Il y a deux réponses: 1. ... last time you told me you loved me. 2. ... last time THAT you told me you loved me. To me, those 2 responses have the same meaning in English. The 'that' adds nothing, but neither is it incorrect. Specifically, neither answer disambiguates between "the last (most recent) time" and"the last (ever) time. The word 'that' in English is often just a filler and does not convey additional meaning. Je ne comprends bien encore.
Chris
Kwiziq community member
9 February 2018
9/02/18
Hi Michael,
I believe you are focusing on the wrong word here. The issue is not about "that" but about whether it is "the last time" (as in last week) or "the last time" (as in the final and last time).
"C'était la dernière fois que tu m'as dit que tu m'aimais." -- That was the last time you told me that you loved me. (There won't be a next time.)
-- Chris (not a native speaker).