sonra

After with Sonra

Level 2

Azerbaijani uses sonra to express 'after' or 'later'. It follows the noun or verb it refers to, requiring specific grammatical endings.

How It Works

The postposition sonra is the primary way to indicate that one event follows another in time. Unlike English, where 'after' comes before the noun, in Azerbaijani, it always follows it.

1. With Nouns and Pronouns
When you want to say 'after [noun]', the noun must take the ablative case suffix (-dan, -dən). In spoken language, you may hear these pronounced as -nan or -nən (especially after nasal consonants like 'm' or 'n'), but -dan/-dən are the standard written forms.
Example: işdən sonra (after work).

2. With Time Durations
If you are expressing a specific amount of time that passes (e.g., 'two hours later'), you can use the nominative case for a simple point in time: beş dəqiqə sonra (five minutes later). However, using the ablative case (e.g., üç gündən sonra) is also grammatically correct and is often used to emphasize the duration that has passed.

3. With Verbs
To say 'after doing something', Azerbaijani uses a specific verbal adverb form: -andan/-əndən sonra. This is the standard way to link two actions chronologically.
Example: gələndən sonra (after coming).

4. As an Adverb and 'Daha Sonra'
When used alone, it means 'later' or 'then'. You will also frequently encounter daha sonra, which means 'later on' or 'afterwards' and is used to transition between steps in a sequence.
Example: Sonra danışarıq (We will talk later).

Examples (5)

  1. Dərsdən sonra kinoya gedək?

    Shall we go to the cinema after class?

    Word by Word: Class-from after cinema-to let's go?

    Here, 'dərs' (class) takes the ablative suffix '-dən' because it is followed by the postposition 'sonra'.

  2. Yemək yeyəndən sonra çay içdik.

    We drank tea after eating food.

    Word by Word: Food eat-after tea we-drank.

    The verb 'yemək' (to eat) uses the '-əndən' suffix to create the 'after doing' construction.

  3. İki il sonra o, yeni ev aldı.

    Two years later, he bought a new house.

    Word by Word: Two year after he new house bought.

    For durations like 'two years', no case ending is added to 'il' (year) before 'sonra'.

  4. Bundan sonra nə edəcəksən?

    What will you do after this?

    Word by Word: This-from after what you-will-do?

    Pronouns like 'bu' (this) also require the ablative case ('bundan') when used with 'sonra'.

  5. Mən sonra gələcəyəm.

    I will come later.

    Word by Word: I later will-come.

    In this sentence, 'sonra' acts as a standalone adverb meaning 'later'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case for general nouns.

    İş sonra görüşərik.
    İşdən sonra görüşərik.

    General nouns must be in the ablative case (-dan/-dən) before 'sonra'. Using the base form is incorrect for events or objects.

  • Choosing between -dıqdan sonra and -andan sonra.

    Different MeaningGəldikdən sonra zəng et.
    Gələndən sonra zəng et.

    'Gəldikdən sonra zəng et' is a good sentence; -dıqdan sonra is used in Azerbaijani and sounds a little more formal. The participle form -andan/-əndən sonra ('Gələndən sonra') is common in everyday talk.

How It Connects

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sonraLevel 2After with Sonra

Learn This First

To use 'sonra' correctly, you must first understand how to form the ablative case (-dan/-dən), as this postposition always governs that case. It is also helpful to know basic demonstrative pronouns like 'bu' since they are commonly paired with 'sonra' in everyday speech.

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sonra