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after: conjunction

Grammar

after + clause, + clause

Grammar

clause + after + clause

Use and position​

After and its clause can come either before the main clause (often with a comma) or after. Putting it at the end can give it more importance in information structure (see here).

  • After I moved to Scotland, I changed jobs.
  • I changed jobs after I moved to Scotland.

Note the time relations: in both cases the speaker moved to Scotland first and then changed jobs. Compare:

  • I moved to Scotland after I changed jobs. (The speaker changed jobs first.)

Present with future meaning​

We use after with a present tense to talk about the future (see here).

  • I’ll telephone you after I arrive. (not … after I will arrive.)

Perfect tenses​

In clauses with after, we often use present and past perfect tenses to show that one thing is completed before another starts (see here).

  • I usually go straight home after I’ve finished work.
  • After Lara had finished school, she went to America.

We use a present perfect, not a future perfect, to talk about the future with after.

  • I’ll call you after I’ve seen Jake. (not … after I’ll have seen Jake.)

after …ing​

In a formal style, we often use the structure after + -ing.

  • After completing this form, give it to the secretary.

After having + past participle is also possible when talking about the past.

  • He wrote his first book after returning / having returned from Mongolia.
note

For after as an adverb, (see here).