después de + Infinitive
After Doing
Use 'después de + infinitive' to mean 'after doing something'.
How It Works
The phrase después de means 'after'. When you want to say 'after doing something', you always follow it with a verb in the infinitive form (like hablar, comer, vivir).
This structure is used when the person doing both actions is the same. For example, in 'Después de comer, voy al cine' (After eating, I'm going to the movies), the same person ('I') is doing the eating and the going.
Structure:
- Después de + [Verb in Infinitive]
This is a very common and useful way to sequence events in Spanish. It's the opposite of antes de + infinitive (before doing).
Examples (4)
- Después de comer, lavo los platos.
After eating, I wash the dishes.
Word by Word: After to eat, I wash the dishes.
- Vamos a la playa después de terminar la tarea.
We are going to the beach after finishing the homework.
Word by Word: We go to the beach after to finish the homework.
- Después de estudiar, me gusta ver la televisión.
After studying, I like to watch television.
Word by Word: After to study, I like to watch the television.
- ¿Qué haces después de trabajar?
What do you do after working?
Word by Word: What do you do after to work?
Common Mistakes
Conjugating the verb after 'después de'.
Después de como, descanso.Después de comer, descanso.The preposition 'de' requires the verb that follows it to be in the infinitive form (-ar, -er, -ir). You should not conjugate it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'después de + infinitive', you need to understand how basic prepositions like 'de' function and recognize the infinitive form of verbs (the unconjugated form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
- a/de/en/con/sinBasic Prepositions
The pattern uses the preposition 'de' to link the temporal adverb 'después' to the following verb.
Foundations - -o/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anPresent Tense -AR Verbs
Understanding the concept of an infinitive (the base form of the verb before endings are applied) is necessary to use this structure correctly.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- antes de + InfinitiveBefore Doing
'Antes de + infinitive' means 'before doing something', which is the direct opposite of 'después de + infinitive'. Both are used to sequence events.
Level 1 - para + InfinitiveIn Order to
Like 'después de', 'para' is another preposition followed by an infinitive. However, 'para + infinitive' expresses purpose ('in order to do something'), not sequence.
Level 1 - al + InfinitiveUpon/When Doing
'Al + infinitive' also describes a sequence of events, but it means 'upon doing' or 'as soon as one does' something, indicating an immediate connection between the two actions.
Level 1 - ir + a + InfinitiveNear Future
This structure is used to talk about the near future. It's often used in the main clause of a sentence that starts with 'después de', for example: 'Después de comer, voy a estudiar' (After eating, I am going to study).
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice después de + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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