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I asked my teacher how to say "last question", to which she responded by
"前の質問【しつもん】". However somehow I feel, 前の質問 refers more like "question that was
asked earlier". Can anyone please explain how I can express and differentiate
between the two expressions?

Some examples:

Type 1:

  1. The **last time** I gave you a chocolate, you said you didn't like them. (what happened now?)
  2. Did you complete the **last book** you took from the library?
  3. Have you guys figured the answer to the **last question** I gave you?

Type 2:

  1. I have shown you **earlier** how to solve this problem.
  2. **Earlier** you said you like her. (what happened now?)
  3. **Earlier** I used to do that too. (but not now)

More specifically, I am trying to differentiate between references which can
mean "a time in the past without any particular reference as to when", and "a
specific point in past where the last occurrence of something was there".

Additional Notes: I have read about using 最後【さいご】 to express "last time", but
I believe it has a meaning of doing something for the last time (as in when
did you meet her for the final time?). Here I do not mean any of the
activities mentioned above, is for the final time only.

Edit: Any examples and explanation of 最後 usage to distinguish the nuances will
also be highly appreciated.
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2014-03-04T02:36:41.013
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2014-03-04T07:45:52.953
2014-03-04T03:56:14.957
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question
word-choice
How to differentiate between references in past to mean "last time" or "earlier"
You can use この前 to express the most recent occurrence relative to now.

Some examples :

> この前の試験はどうでしたか
>
> How were your last exams?
>
> この前の授業に出たかい
>
> Did you go to the last class?
>
> 彼はこの前の日曜日にゴルフをしました
>
> He played golf last Sunday.
>
> この前はどこで終わりましたか
>
> Where did we leave off last time?

To simply express something that occurred just recently you can use さっき

> 彼はついさっき出かけた
>
> He went out just now.
>
> さっきの話はなかったことにしてくれ
>
> Please forget what we talked about earlier.

To express something that happened lately you can use この間

> この間はカンガルーの皮の財布を土産に買ってきてくれた。
>
> The other day he bought a wallet made of kangaroo leather for me.

最後に can also be used to express the last time something happened

> 彼女を最後に見たのはいつですか。
>
> When did you see her last?

These are just expressions from the top of my head there are probably others
used for different situations, the examples used are from Tangorin online
dictionary.
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2014-03-04T03:24:37.543
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2014-03-04T07:45:52.953
2014-03-04T07:45:52.953
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answer