"the first 3 houses", "the last 4 months" ..etc.

[libertango]

what is the system to express ideas like,

the first 5 days (of class)

the last 25 years...

i'm also curious about "the next to last"

ex: There will be a review on the next to last day of class.

[skylee]

the first 5 days - 最初五天 首五天

the last 25 years - 最後25年

the next to last - 倒數第二

[amego]

As usual, things change with context.

"For the last/past 25 years, he has been..."

"这二十五年来,他一直都。。。" "These 25 years come, he always... "

"过去的二十五年来,他一直都。。。" "Past 25 years come, he always... "

"For the first 5 days, we went to..."

"开始的前五天,我们去了。。。" "Starting first 5 days, we went to"

"前五天我们去了。。。" ***shorter conversation form

"首五天, 我们去了。。。" more formal written form

"最初的五天，我们去了。。。" more formal written form but sound abit weird to me

"There will be a review on the next to last day of class."

"在上课最后一天的前一天会有一个温习。"

"The first 3 houses..."

"前三间屋子。。。"

"The last four months..."

"最后四个月。。。"

Please don't forget the counter-words

[Luoman]

What about using the prefix 头？ Or is it common only in the northern China? Also I remember someone told me that in phrases like "the first two days of the first two months" it is better to use different words: "前两个月的头两天“？

[Quest]

What about using the prefix 头？ Or is it common only in the northern China? Also I remember someone told me that in phrases like "the first two days of the first two months" it is better to use different words: "前两个月的头两天“？

头 is used throughout China.