skôr ako / potom ako
Before and After Clauses
To say before or after followed by a verb, Slovak uses skôr ako or predtým, ako and potom ako, not the prepositions pred and po.
How It Works
Nouns versus clauses. With a noun, use a preposition: pred obedom (before lunch, see pred), po obede (after lunch, see po). With a verb, use a conjunction:
- Before: skôr ako, skôr než, predtým, ako (and bookish prv ako): Zavolaj mi, skôr ako odídeš.
- After: potom ako or potom, čo: Potom ako skončil, išiel domov.
Commas. A comma separates the two clauses. With predtým and potom you will also see a comma inside the expression (predtým, ako; potom, čo), because predtým and potom can belong to the main clause.
Verbs. The after clause usually has a perfective verb, because the first action is finished: potom ako sme sa navečerali. For the future, the before clause also uses a perfective present form, not budem: skôr ako odídeš.
Earlier than. Don't confuse skôr ako (before) with the comparison skôr, ako (earlier than): Prišiel skôr, ako sme čakali (He came earlier than we expected). A noun-based alternative is a verbal noun: po skončení (after finishing).
Examples (6)
- Zavolaj mi, skôr ako odídeš.
Call me before you leave.
Word by Word: Call me, earlier than you-leave.
- Potom ako skončil, išiel domov.
After he finished, he went home.
Word by Word: Then as he-finished, he-went home.
- Predtým, ako začneš, prečítaj si návod.
Before you start, read the instructions.
Word by Word: Before, as you-start, read yourself instructions.
- Umy si ruky, skôr než si sadneš k stolu.
Wash your hands before you sit down at the table.
Word by Word: Wash yourself hands, earlier than yourself you-sit-down to table.
- Potom ako sme sa navečerali, išli sme na prechádzku.
After we'd had dinner, we went for a walk.
Word by Word: Then as we-are ourselves had-dinner, went we-are on walk.
- Prišiel skôr, ako sme čakali.
He came earlier than we expected.
Word by Word: He-came earlier, than we-are expected.
Here skôr is a comparison (earlier than), not before.
Common Mistakes
Using the preposition pred before a verb.
Pred odídeš, zavolaj mi.Skôr ako odídeš, zavolaj mi.Pred is a preposition and needs a noun: pred odchodom. Before a clause with a verb, use skôr ako or predtým, ako.
Using the preposition po before a verb.
Po skončil, išiel domov.Potom ako skončil, išiel domov.Po goes with a noun in the locative: po skončení, po práci. Before a verb, use potom ako.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Before and After Clauses, learn When: keď. skôr ako and potom ako are time conjunctions like keď.
Related Patterns
- pred + Instrumental (Ago)Ago: Pred
Pred + instrumental is the noun version for time: pred obedom (before lunch), pred rokom (a year ago).
Level 3 - o / po / pri + LocativeAbout, After and Near: O, Po and Pri
The preposition po, used with nouns rather than clauses.
Level 2 - len čo / hneď akoAs Soon as
For an action that follows immediately: as soon as.
Level 4 - -nie / -tieVerbal Nouns
Verbal nouns give a shorter noun version: po skončení, pred odchodom.
Level 4 - Commas Before Conjunctions
The general comma rules for clauses like these.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice skôr ako / potom ako in Bubblegum
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