سے پہلے / کے بعد

Before and After

Level 2

Name the reference event, then say which side of it you mean.

How It Works

An activity expressed with an infinitive changes نا to نے in these phrases: پڑھنا becomes پڑھنے. This is an infinitive form, not the separate subject marker نے.

A time expression works without an infinitive: دوپہر کے بعد. Learn سے پہلے and کے بعد as complete phrases. You may also encounter کے پہلے for before.

These phrases order events without specifying the length of the gap between them. Add a duration separately if it matters.

Examples (4)

  1. پڑھنے سے پہلے بتی جلائیے۔

    Turn on the light before reading.

    پڑھنے is an oblique infinitive.

  2. بارش کے بعد راستہ صاف تھا۔

    The path was clear after the rain.

    بارش names the reference event.

  3. دوپہر سے پہلے فون کیجیے۔

    Call before noon.

    The reference is a time of day.

  4. خط پڑھنے کے بعد جواب دیجیے۔

    Reply after reading the letter.

    The reading activity precedes the requested reply.

How It Connects

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

سے پہلے / کے بعدLevel 2Before and After

Learn This First

Recognize the سے form before پہلے. Recognize the کے form before بعد.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

بعدبعدسےکا