top of page

After

I studied Italian after I went to Italy. 

Explain - Past tense

We take a clause:

I went to Italy.

Past

Now

Future

I went to Italy.

Add another clause:

I studied Italian.

To say this clause happened second we can use 'after'.

I studied Italian after

Past

Now

Future

I went to Italy.

I studied Italian after I went to Italy.

Explain - Present / Future tense

Let's take a clause:

I go to Italy.

Past

Now

Future

I go to Italy.

Add another clause and use 'after' to say it will happen second:

I will study Italian.

I will study Italian after

Past

Now

Future

I go to Italy.

I will study Italian after I go to Italy.

Rules

Past tense

Past tense clause after past simple clause

Present / Future tense

Present / Future tense clause after present simple / present perfect clause

Examples

Image by Sander Dalhuisen

Present clause: I want to eat after

Past

Now

Future

Present perfect: we've been to the cinema.

Movie Theatre

I want to eat dinner after we've been to the cinema.

Swimming Pool

Past tense clause: We went swimming

Past

Now

Future

Past simple: we got home from work.

Home

We went swimming after we got home from work.

Ground Coffee

Past tense clause: I used to like a coffee

Past

Now

Future

Past simple: I got-up

Image by bruce mars

I used to like a coffee after I got-up.

Red Wine

Present clause: I might have a drink after

Past

Now

Future

Present simple: (I have) dinner.

Dinner

I might have a drink after (I have) dinner.

Note: we can remove the second 'I have' because it is repeated. 

Drivers
Vocabulary - nouns
Vocabulary - verbs

Practice - Past tense

Yesterday

​

3:00pm - Natalia - her office

3:27pm - Naoko - the airport

4:06pm - Ben - a restaurant

4:42pm - Janice - a meeting across town

5:15pm - 5:45pm - break 

6:19pm - Peter - his house

7:00pm - Jamie - the airport

Actions: Natalia / take & Naoko / drop off

Natalia / take

Past

Now

Future

Naoko / drop off

I took Naoko to the airport after I dropped off Natalia.

Actions: Ben / drop off & Janice / pick up

Ben / drop off

Past

Now

Future

Janice / pick up

I picked up Janice at a meeting across town after I dropped off Ben at a restaurant.

Answer

Actions: have my break & Peter / take

I took Peter to his house after I had my break.

Answer

Actions: Peter / drop off & Jamie / collect

I collected Jamie to go to the airport after I dropped off Peter. 

Answer

Practice - Present / Future tense

Tomorrow

10:00am - Yasmine - from home to a meeting

10:30am - Kelly - hospital (very important)

11:15am - Ellie - shopping centre (95% certain to happen)

1:00pm - lunch

3:00pm - Penny - airport (100% certain)

Actions: Yasmine / collect / drop off & Kelly / take

I have to take Kelly to the hospital after I take Yasmine from her home to a meeting.

Answer

Actions: Kelly / drop off & Ellie / take

I'm going to take Ellie to the shopping centre after I drop off Kelly at the hospital. 

Answer

Actions: lunch / have & Penny / take

I will take Penny to the airport after I have lunch.

Answer

Nouns / gerunds

We can make the second clause into a noun or gerund. 

​

Rules:

​

  • Subjects on both clauses must be the same

  • The verb 'be' must be changed into the 'be' verb

Examples with gerunds

I have to pick up David after I drop off Ben at the airport.

  • Subjects on both clauses must be the same

  • The verb 'be' must be changed into the 'be' verb

I have to pick up David after dropping off Ben at the airport.

I dropped off Nick after I chatted with him about sports.

  • Subjects on both clauses must be the same

  • The verb 'be' must be changed into the 'be' verb

I dropped off Nick after chatting with him about sports.

She should know the way after she goes there once.

  • Subjects on both clauses must be the same

  • The verb 'be' must be changed into the 'be' verb