After: ～たあとで
Verb-た + あとで／N + の あとで
Verb-た + あとで / noun + の あとで = after doing, after. あとで on its own = later.
In short
Plain past + あとで = “after doing…”: しごとが おわった あとで、のみに 行きます. With a noun: じゅぎょうの あとで (after class).
- じゅぎょうの あとで、としょかんへ 行きます。jugyō no ato de, toshokan e ikimasuAfter class, I go to the library.
- ごはんを たべた あとで、さんぽします。gohan o tabeta ato de, sanpo shimasuAfter eating, I take a walk.
- しゅくだいを した あとで、テレビを 見ました。shukudai o shita ato de, terebi o mimashitaAfter my homework, I watched TV.
The basics
た-form + あとで = “after doing…”. With a noun: noun + の あとで. It's the opposite of まえに: here, the verb is in the past, since the action is finished.
- しごとが おわった あとで、飲みに 行きます。shigoto ga owatta ato de, nomi ni ikimasuAfter work, I go for a drink.
- じゅぎょうの あとで、先生に 聞きました。jugyō no ato de, sensei ni kikimashitaAfter class, I asked the teacher.
まえに or あとで
The verb changes form depending on the meaning: present before まえに, past before あとで.
| Structure | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～まえに | dictionary | 食べる まえに |
| ～あとで | た-form | 食べた あとで |
| noun | の | しょくじの まえに / しょくじの あとで |
あとで on its own
あとで on its own means “later”: あとで 電話します (I'll call you later).
- あとで 電話します。ato de denwa shimasuI'll call you later.
Common mistakes
- Using the dictionary form: “食べる あとで” is wrong, it's 食べた あとで.
- Mixing up あとで (after, later) and まえに (before).
- Forgetting の with a noun: じゅぎょうの あとで.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Chūō Line (The plain form) of the Tokyo subway.