After and Afterward
2020-07-18
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1This week, we received a question from Rose in Brazil. She asks,
2I would like to know the difference between after and afterward and how I can use both correctly.
3Besides that, I would like to know if there is a difference between afterwards and afterward.
4Thanks in advance. -- Rose, Brazil.
5Dear Rose,
6You have asked about two words that seem very similar.
7But they are in fact used differently.
8"After" has many uses in English: it can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a preposition or even a noun.
9First, I will explain how it is used as an adverb.
10The adverb "after" means following in time or at a later time.
11Notice that this can be used in the same way you use the word "later."
12She returned from the trip one year after.
13It is probably more common to use "after" as a preposition.
14It means at a time following, as in these sentences:
15My brother was born five years after my parents' wedding.
16The bus arrives at five minutes after two o'clock.
17And after is also used as a conjunction, that is, it joins together two ideas in one sentence.
18Don't tell them until after they have had lunch.
19Now on to "afterward."
20"Afterward" is only used as an adverb.
21It helps describe an action that happens at a later time.
22Kai got the job and received a promotion afterward.
23You may have seen "afterward" with an "s" at the end.
24This form is much more common in British English and less formal American English.
25There is no difference in meaning between afterwards and afterward. You may hear:
26Why don't we take her to lunch afterwards?
27Both "afterward" and "afterwards" can be used in the same way you would use the word later.
28But "after" has many more uses than these two forms.
29That's Ask a Teacher for this week.
30What question do you have about English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
31I'm Jill Robbins.
1This week, we received a question from Rose in Brazil. She asks, 2Question: 3I would like to know the difference between after and afterward and how I can use both correctly. Besides that, I would like to know if there is a difference between afterwards and afterward. 4Thanks in advance. -- Rose, Brazil. 5Answer: 6Dear Rose, 7You have asked about two words that seem very similar. But they are in fact used differently. "After" has many uses in English: it can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a preposition or even a noun. First, I will explain how it is used as an adverb. 8After 9The adverb "after" means following in time or at a later time. Notice that this can be used in the same way you use the word "later." 10She returned from the trip one year after. 11It is probably more common to use "after" as a preposition. It means at a time following, as in these sentences: 12My brother was born five years after my parents' wedding. 13The bus arrives at five minutes after two o'clock. 14And after is also used as a conjunction, that is, it joins together two ideas in one sentence. 15Don't tell them until after they have had lunch. 16Afterward and afterwards 17Now on to "afterward." "Afterward" is only used as an adverb. It helps describe an action that happens at a later time. 18Kai got the job and received a promotion afterward. 19You may have seen "afterward" with an "s" at the end. This form is much more common in British English and less formal American English. There is no difference in meaning between afterwards and afterward. You may hear: 20Why don't we take her to lunch afterwards? 21Both "afterward" and "afterwards" can be used in the same way you would use the word later. But "after" has many more uses than these two forms. 22That's Ask a Teacher for this week. 23Your questions 24What question do you have about English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com. 25I'm Jill Robbins. 26Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 27________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29promotion n. the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization 30Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.