てから

After Doing

Level 2Sounds Like tekara

The pattern てから means "after doing" or "ever since." It connects two actions to show a clear chronological order where the first must finish before the second starts, often implying a deliberate choice or sequence.

How It Works

1. Chronological Sequence
This is the most common use. It shows that Action A is a necessary starting point for Action B. Unlike the simple て form, which just lists actions, てから makes the order explicit and usually implies a volitional choice. It is not used for natural, inseparable sequences (like 'turning the key and the car starts').

  • 手を洗ってから、ご飯を食べます。(After washing my hands, I eat.)

2. "Ever Since" (Duration)
When used with a state that continues, it means "ever since that moment."

  • 日本に来てから、三ヶ月です。(It has been three months since I came to Japan.)

3. Subject Marking
If the subject of the てから clause is different from the main clause, the first subject is typically marked with the が particle instead of は.

  • 田中さんが来てから、会議を始めましょう。(Let's start the meeting after Mr. Tanaka arrives.)

4. Formation Rules
It only attaches to the て form of verbs. The tense of the entire sentence is decided by the final verb at the end of the sentence.

  • Group 1: 飲んで + から (After drinking)
  • Group 2: 食べて + から (After eating)
  • Group 3: して + から (After doing)

Examples (4)

  1. 宿題をしてから、遊びに行きます。

    I will go out to play after I do my homework.

    Word by Word: Homework (object) do-after, play-to go.

    The speaker emphasizes that the homework must be finished first before they can go out.

  2. 日本に来てから、ずっと日本語を勉強しています。

    I have been studying Japanese ever since I came to Japan.

    Word by Word: Japan to come-after, always Japanese (object) studying am doing.

    Here, the pattern indicates a starting point for a continuous state (studying).

  3. よく考えてから、返事をしてください。

    Please reply after thinking about it carefully.

    Word by Word: Well think-after, reply (object) please do.

    This uses the pattern to set a condition: don't reply until the thinking process is complete.

  4. 二十歳になってから、お酒を飲みます。

    I will drink alcohol after I turn twenty.

    Word by Word: 20 years old become-after, alcohol (object) drink.

    Since nouns can't attach directly to てから, the verb なる (to become) is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the past tense (た form) before から to mean 'after'.

    食べたから、薬を飲みます。
    食べてから、薬を飲みます。

    食べたから（たべたから） means 'BECAUSE I ate.' To say 'AFTER I eat,' you must use the て form: 食べてから（たべてから）.

  • Using 'ato de' to mean 'ever since'.

    日本に来たあとで、三ヶ月です。
    日本に来てから、三ヶ月です。

    While 後で（あとで） also means 'after,' it cannot be used to describe a duration of time that has passed since an event. Only てから can mean 'ever since'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

てからLevel 2After Doing

Learn This First

To understand 'てから', you must first be able to conjugate verbs into the 'て' form. Additionally, familiarity with the particle 'から' (meaning 'from') provides the logical basis for expressing that one action follows 'from' the completion of another.

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