These three all say WHEN something happens, and none of them has happened yet. Tonight is this evening, only hours from now. Next week is the week after this one. Next year is the year after this one.
Tonight, next week, next year
tonight /təˈnaɪt/ — I am at home tonight.
next week /ˌnekst ˈwiːk/ — The party is next week.
next year /ˌnekst ˈjɪr/ — Ethan finishes school next year.
Try it: Mateo: Do you have time for me today? Ira: Yes. Come at nine ___, after dinner. Finish what Ira says. (next year / tonight / this week) Answer: tonight — Mateo asks about today and Ira says yes, so the nine o'clock she means is the one a few hours away, after her dinner. Neither of the other two answers is today.
Try it: Wei: Today is Friday. Is the concert at the Neshom Note tomorrow? Maya: No, it is on Monday ___. Finish what Maya says. (next week / this week / next year) Answer: next week — Today is Friday, so the Monday of this week is already over. The Monday Maya means comes after the weekend, in next week. next year is much too far away.
Try it: Farid: Is the school trip to Ghafwick soon? Sofia: No, not this year. We go ___. Finish what Sofia says. (this year / next year / next week) Answer: next year — Sofia rules out this year, so the trip waits for the one after it. Seven days from now is still inside the year she just ruled out.