“The DVD is due on next Sunday.”

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.”