після того як
Temporal Clauses with “After”
Use після того як to connect two complete sentences (subject + verb) in a temporal sequence. It translates to 'after' or 'once'.
How It Works
The phrase після того як is the standard way to express 'after' when followed by an action rather than just a noun.
1. Structure and Punctuation
The phrase consists of the preposition після, the demonstrative pronoun того (genitive of те), and the relative connector як.
• If the clause starts the sentence, do not put a comma inside the phrase (Після того як...).
• If the clause follows the main sentence, a comma is required before the whole phrase (..., після того як).
• For specific emphasis on the time itself, the comma can be 'split': після того, як.
2. Aspect and Tense
• Single Actions: Use the perfective aspect to show one action finished before another started.
• Habitual Actions: Use the imperfective aspect if the sequence happened repeatedly.
• Future: Unlike English, Ukrainian requires the future tense in the 'after' clause if the event is yet to happen.
3. Word Order
The clause starting with після того як can come at the beginning or the end of the sentence. Placing it first sets the temporal frame for the main action.
Examples (5)
- Після того як ми повечеряли, ми пішли гуляти.
After we had dinner, we went for a walk.
Word by Word: After that how we had-dinner, we went to-walk.
Both verbs are perfective and in the past tense, showing a completed sequence of events. No comma is used inside the phrase at the start of a sentence.
- Я зателефоную тобі, після того як прийду додому.
I will call you after I get home.
Word by Word: I will-call to-you, after that how I come home.
Note the use of the future tense 'прийду' in the 'after' clause, which is mandatory in Ukrainian for future events. A comma precedes the conjunction.
- Він відчув себе краще, після того як випив ліки.
He felt better after he took the medicine.
Word by Word: He felt self better, after that how [he] drank medicine.
The conjunction links the main state to the prior completed action. A comma is required before the conjunction when it follows the main clause.
- Після того як закінчиться дощ, ми вийдемо на вулицю.
After the rain ends, we will go outside.
Word by Word: After that how ends rain, we will-go-out on street.
The subordinate clause comes first here to emphasize the condition of the rain stopping.
- Після того як він повертався з роботи, він завжди читав газету.
After he returned from work, he always read the newspaper.
Word by Word: After that how he returned from work, he always read newspaper.
Here, the imperfective aspect (повертався) is used because the action was habitual and repeated.
Common Mistakes
Using the preposition 'після' directly with a verb or infinitive.
Після прийти додому, я пообідав.Після того як я прийшов додому, я пообідав.In Ukrainian, the preposition 'після' can only be followed by a noun in the genitive case. To use a verb, you must use the full 'після того як' construction.
Using the present tense for future 'after' clauses (English interference).
Я зроблю це після того як я повертаюся.Я зроблю це після того як я повернуся.If the action is in the future, the verb inside the 'після того як' clause must be in the future tense.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'після того як', you need to be familiar with demonstrative pronouns (specifically 'той'), how to form basic temporal clauses, and how to use the past tense to describe the events being sequenced.
- цей/тойDemonstrative Pronoun Agreement
The pattern uses the demonstrative pronoun 'той' in its neuter form 'того' as a core component of the conjunction.
Level 2 - коли (сполучник часу)Temporal Clauses with Коли
Understanding how temporal clauses function in Ukrainian is essential before learning more complex conjunctions like 'після того як'.
Level 3 - Masculine Past Tense
Temporal clauses with 'after' frequently describe completed actions in the past, requiring knowledge of past tense verb forms.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Perfective Aspect
The 'after' clause almost always uses the perfective aspect to show the completion of the first action.
Level 2 - якщоConditional Clauses with Якщо
Similar to 'після того як', 'якщо' introduces a subordinate clause, but it focuses on a condition rather than a time sequence.
Level 3 - Perfective Simple Future
This future tense form is frequently used within 'після того як' clauses to describe future sequences.
Level 3 - що (з'ясувальне)Content Clauses with Що
Both involve compound structures with 'того' or 'те', but 'що' introduces content/facts rather than time.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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