After

after (adverb)

1) after in adverb phrases

After is often used in adverb phrases like shortly after, long after, a week after, a few days after etc.

We had oysters for supper. Shortly after, I began to feel ill.

They started the job on 17 June and finished a week after.

2) after not used alone

After is not normally used alone as an adverb. Instead, we use other expressions like afterwards, then or after that.

I'm going to do my exams, and afterwards I'm going to study medicine.

after (conjunction)

clause + after + clause after + clause, + clause

1) use and position

The conjunction after joins one clause to another. After and its clause can come either after or before the other clause.

- I went to America after I left school.
After I left school, I wen t to America.

(In both cases the speaker left school first and then went to America. Note the comma in the second structure.)

- He did military service after he went to university.

(He went to university first.) After he did military service, he went to university. (He did military service first.)

2) present with future meaning

In a clause with after, we use a present tense if the meaning of the clause is future.

I'll telephoneyou after I arrive, (not ... after I will arrive.)

3) perfect tenses

In clauses with after, we often use present and past perfect tenses to show that one thing is completed before another starts.

77/ telephone you after I've seen Jake.

After I had finished school, I wen t to America.

4) after...ing

In a formal style, we often use the structure after + -ing. After having + past participle is also possible, especially when talking about the past.

After completing this form, give it to the secretary. (More natural than After having completed...)

He wrote his first book after returning Ihaving returned from Mongolia.