Skip to main content

After, afterwards

After as a preposition and conjunction​

After means ‘later than’ and ‘next in time or place’.

After can be used before a noun phrase (as a preposition):

  • Shall we have a swim after lunch?
  • The bank is just after the park, on the left.

After can introduce a clause (as a conjunction):

  • After I left him a message, he phoned me immediately.
  • She did voluntary work in a hospital after she graduated.
warning

We use the present simple following after when referring to the future:

  • I’ll contact you after we reach the airport.
See also
  • Conjunctions

After or afterwards as an adverb​

We can use after as an adverb, but afterwards is more common. When after is used, it is usually as part of an adverb phrase:

  • They lived happily ever after. (means ‘for ever’)
  • She had an operation on her leg and afterwards was unable to walk for at least a month.
See also
  • Before
  • Finally, at last, lastly or in the end?

After: typical error​

When after refers to future time, we use the present simple, not the future with shall or will:

  • I’ll do another course after I finish this one.
  • Not: … after I will finish …