Last but one, two, three, etc. / Next but one, etc/ Please help professionals!

[Alexandro]

Hi everybody,

Can you say:

- I was last but one in yesterday's race. (meaning, there was one person behind me)
- I was last but two in yesterday's race. (meaning, there were two persons behind me)

Can you also say:

- She lives next door but one from me. (meaning she lives in the second house from mine.
- She lives next door but two from me. (meaning she lives in third house from mine)

Can you also say, for instance at the doctor's waiting room:

- I am next but one, two, three (meaning there are still one, two or three people after me, or is this completely wrong?)

Please help me.
Thanks in advance
Alexandro
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'Everyone can mistakes! After all, nobody's perfect.'

[Mister Micawber]

Yes, you can say those, Alexandro. For 'next but one' I would say 'next to last', though.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Alan]

Ho Alexandro,

'Next but two' is probably as far as I would go. After that I would refer to 'three and so on people' or 'three and so on doors from me'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple