N4 · Linking clauses
Before and after: まえに, あとで and てから
putting two actions in order
Before takes the dictionary form, after takes the た-form, whatever the tense of the sentence.
"Before doing something" is the dictionary form plus 前に: 寝る前に歯を磨きます. The verb stays in the dictionary form even when the whole sentence is about the past — 寝る前に本を読みました — because at the moment of reading, the going to bed had not happened yet. With a noun: 食事の前に.
"After doing something" is the た-form plus 後で: 仕事が終わった後で、飲みに行きます. Here the た-form stays even about the future, because the work will already be finished when the drinking starts. With a noun: 映画の後で.
This is the same logic as with とき: the form in the clause says "not yet" or "already" relative to the main action. English takes its tense from the sentence — "before I left", "after I leave" — and Japanese does not.
てから also means "after", but more tightly: the first action is finished and then, as the next step, the second one follows. It often implies that the first is a precondition: 手を洗ってから食べます, "I wash my hands and only then eat". 後で simply places the second action somewhere later in time.
The form
| before going to bed | 寝る前に |
| before the meal | 食事の前に |
| after work has finished | 仕事が終わった後で |
| after the film | 映画の後で |
| after washing my hands, then… | 手を洗ってから |
| since coming to Japan | 日本に来てから |
| later (on its own) | 後で |
The rules one by one
まえに always follows the dictionary form, even in a past sentence.
出かける前に、天気予報を見ました。Before going out, I checked the weather forecast.
あとで always follows the た-form, even in a future sentence.
会議が終わった後で、連絡します。I'll get in touch after the meeting has finished.
てから puts two actions in a fixed order, the first one a step towards the second.
シャワーを浴びてから、朝ご飯を食べます。I have a shower and then eat breakfast.
A noun takes の before まえに and あとで.
試験の前に、もう一度復習します。Before the exam, I'll go over it once more.
てから can also mean "since", counting the time from that point.
東京に引っ越してから、毎日電車に乗っています。Since moving to Tokyo, I have taken the train every day.
A closer look
あとで, てから, and the order of steps
Both 後で and てから translate as "after", and in many sentences either is fine. The difference shows when the first action matters for the second. Instructions, routines and recipes use てから: お湯を沸かしてから、お茶を入れます. Boil first, because the tea needs it.
後で is looser and points more at time: after one thing, at some later point, the other. That is why 後で on its own means simply "later" — 後で電話します, "I'll call you later" — while てから can never stand on its own.
How to spot it
- 〜る前に
- 〜の前に
- 〜た後で
- 〜の後で
- 〜てから
- 後で
Example sentences
食べる前に、手を洗いましょう。Let's wash our hands before we eat.
日本に来る前に、少し日本語を勉強しました。Before coming to Japan, I studied a little Japanese.
授業が終わった後で、図書館に行きます。After class, I'll go to the library.
晩ご飯の後で、散歩をしませんか。Shall we go for a walk after dinner?
靴を脱いでから、部屋に入ってください。Please take your shoes off before coming into the room.
大学を卒業してから、ずっとこの会社で働いています。I have worked at this company ever since I graduated.
7 more example sentences
雨が降る前に、帰りましょう。Let's go home before it starts to rain.
出発の前に、パスポートを確かめてください。Please check your passport before departure.
宿題をした後で、ゲームをしてもいいです。You can play games after you have done your homework.
後で電話します。I'll call you later.
よく考えてから、答えてください。Please think carefully before you answer.
結婚してから、料理をするようになりました。I started cooking after I got married.
会議の後で、少し話せますか。Can we talk for a bit after the meeting?
Worth knowing (1)
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Before something happens by itself
前に works just as well when the clause has a different subject, including weather or events nobody controls: 暗くなる前に, "before it gets dark". English often says "before it rains" where it means "before it starts raining", and the Japanese dictionary form covers exactly that.
暗くなる前に、山を下りましょう。Let's get down the mountain before it gets dark.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English says "before I went to bed" and puts the past everywhere. Japanese asks a different question: at the moment of reading, had the going to bed happened? It had not, so it is 寝る. 前に never takes the た-form, and 後で never takes the dictionary form.
Before means not yet, after means already — so る before まえ, た before あと.
Your turn
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