What is after? How to use in English

Okay, let's break down how to use the word "after" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings and functions! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Time – Following an Event

• Most Common Usage: “After” most often indicates something happening later than something else.
  • Example: “I’ll call you after the meeting.” (You’ll call after the meeting is over.)
  • Example: “We went to the beach after lunch.” (We went to the beach following lunch.)
  • Example: “She arrived after midnight.” (She arrived later than midnight.)

2. Sequence of Events

• Chronological Order: “After” shows the order of things happening one after another.
  • Example: “After studying hard, he got good grades.” (Studying happened first, then getting good grades.)
  • Example: “After the rain, the sun came out.” (Rain came first, then the sun.)

3. Following a Person or Thing

• Trailing Behind: This means following someone or something physically.
  • Example: “The dog followed me after I left the house.”
  • Example: “He walked after the bus.” (He walked behind the bus).

4. Cause and Effect (Often with “because”)

• Resulting From: "After" can suggest a result or consequence. Often used with "because."
  • Example: “After I ate too much, I felt sick.” (Because I ate too much, I felt sick.) – More natural to say “Because I ate too much, I felt sick.” but “after” can be used.
  • Example: “After the storm, the roads were flooded.”

5. "Afterward" (Often Interchangeable)

• "Afterward" is simply the adverb form of "after." They are usually interchangeable in many contexts, but “afterward” is considered slightly more formal.
  • Example: “Let’s go afterward.” (Let’s go after that.)
  • Example: “I’ll meet you after.” (I’ll meet you afterward.)

6. Expressing a Condition (Less Common, More Formal)

• Following a specific condition: This is a more complex usage and often found in legal or formal writing. It usually implies a consequence if a condition is met.
  • Example: “After full payment of the invoice, the goods will be shipped.” (If the invoice is paid in full, the goods will be shipped.)

7. Figurative Usage (Less Frequent)

• “After all”: Used to express surprise, especially when something unexpected happens.
  • Example: “He didn't come! After all, he promised he would.”

Key Points & How to Remember:

• Time is the most common meaning. That's where you'll encounter it most often.
• Think about sequence. “After” helps establish what happened next.
• Consider the context. The surrounding words will usually make the meaning clear.

Let’s test your understanding! Can you create a sentence using “after” in each of the categories above (time, sequence, following, cause & effect)?

Would you like me to:

• Give you more examples?
• Focus on a specific usage (e.g., "afterward")?
• Provide practice sentences for you to try?