after
after — preposition
1. later than a particular time, event, or person; behind someone or something in a
later than a particular time, event, or person; behind someone or something in a line, list, or order
The children went to the park after lunch and played on the swings.
temporal: after + noun phrase
Bao comes after Amani on the list because B comes after A in the alphabet.
order: after + noun phrase indicating sequence
We left the restaurant right after the rain started pouring outside.
Shanti locked the front door after her roommate had already left for work.
A full hour after the bell rang, Selim was still working on his exam paper.
- following
slightly more formal; 'following the meeting' vs 'after the meeting'
- subsequent to
very formal, used mainly in legal or academic writing
- before
earlier than a time or event
常見錯誤
2. used when judging a situation based on everything that has happened or all the f
used when judging a situation based on everything that has happened or all the facts involved
After all her hard work, Diya was disappointed not to get the scholarship.
considering: after all + [noun phrase]
After everything that went wrong at the start, it was still a lovely holiday.
After the way Tuan treated his colleagues, I am not surprised no one invited him.
After what Diya told me about the hotel, I decided to book a different one.
- given
more direct; 'given the circumstances' vs 'after everything that happened'
用法筆記
Often followed by a noun phrase starting with 'all', 'everything', 'the way', or 'what' to summarise a set of circumstances before giving a judgment.
3. as a direct result of a particular event or situation that has already happened
as a direct result of a particular event or situation that has already happened
After the earthquake, many families decided to move away from the coastal area.
causal: after + [event/incident]
After what happened at the last meeting, no one fully trusts the new manager.
After the flood destroyed their home, the village received help from the government.
After Mauricio's public apology, his partner agreed to meet him for coffee the next week.
- because of
more general cause-and-effect; 'because of the rain' vs 'after the rain' (which implies the rain happened first)
- as a result of
more formal, makes the causal link explicit
用法筆記
Unlike 'because of', this sense of 'after' assumes the event actually happened and then caused something else. The event noun is often dramatic or significant — an accident, crisis, disaster, or major change.
4. trying to find, catch, or get someone or something
trying to find, catch, or get someone or something
The police are after a man who stole a wallet from the train station.
common phrase: 'be after [someone/something]'
Mira went after her brother to give him the lunch he left on the table.
Heather has been after a promotion at work for almost two years now.
The cat ran after a mouse that dashed quickly under the wooden fence.
The journalist was after a story about corruption in the city council.
Caleb ran after the ice-cream truck but could not catch up with it.
- in search of
more formal; used especially for information or missing items
- seeking
more formal and broader in scope
用法筆記
Common in the pattern 'be after' (stative — wanting something) or with movement verbs like 'go', 'come', 'run', 'chase' (active pursuit). The object can be a person, thing, or abstract goal.
5. a courteous phrase said to invite another person to go first, for instance when
a courteous phrase said to invite another person to go first, for instance when entering a room or joining a line
'After you,' said Ilan, holding the heavy door open for the elderly woman.
fixed polite phrase: 'After you'
The man at the counter smiled and said 'After you' to let Nkechi order first.
At a crossing, Henrik waved a cyclist through and said 'After you' with a smile.
Aminata stood back at the narrow doorway and said 'After you' to the older man.
- please go ahead
more explicit instruction rather than a fixed polite phrase
文法句型
After you
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'After you' in face-to-face polite interactions. Not used in writing or for situations involving strict queues or rules.
6. in a way that copies or is typical of a particular person, artist, or tradition
in a way that copies or is typical of a particular person, artist, or tradition
The new library was designed after the old stone churches of northern Italy.
pattern: designed/made/modelled after [model]
Isabela paints after the style of the French Impressionists, with soft brush strokes.
The chocolate cake was made after a traditional recipe from São Paulo.
Mayor Otis's speech was modelled after the great addresses of Martin Luther King Jr.
- in the manner of
more formal; used especially in art and literature criticism
- à la
borrowed from French; informal and often used in food or fashion contexts
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like 'designed', 'modelled', 'made', 'painted', or 'copied' to show the source of inspiration. Not used for simple imitation without intention, such as a child copying a sibling's behaviour.
7. given a name that matches someone else's, usually to show respect or continue a
given a name that matches someone else's, usually to show respect or continue a family tradition
Amani was named after her grandmother, who was a famous doctor in Seoul.
pattern: named after [person]
The park is named after a local hero who saved three children from a fire.
Jenna and Kian called their son Gabriel after the angel in the old family Bible.
The street was named after the poet who grew up in the neighbourhood in 1920.
- named for
preferred in American English; identical meaning
文法句型
named after [person/thing]
用法筆記
In American English, 'named for' is more common than 'named after'. This sense often appears in passive constructions.
after — adverb
1. following in time; at a moment that comes after another event or person
following in time; at a moment that comes after another event or person
Henry arrived at the party at eight, and his sister came soon after.
position: verb + after at end of clause
The company was founded in 1995, and the website launched a few years after.
Mayumi graduated from university in June and moved to Japan not long after.
The first film was a huge success, and the sequel came out six months after.
- before
at an earlier time
用法筆記
As an adverb, 'after' is NOT followed by a noun. Compare: 'He left after dinner' (preposition) vs 'He left soon after' (adverb). Common with modifiers like 'soon', 'right', 'shortly', 'not long'.
常見錯誤
after — adjective
- afterpositive
- afterercomparative
- afterestsuperlative
1. located at or near the back part of a ship, aircraft, or similar vehicle
located at or near the back part of a ship, aircraft, or similar vehicle
The captain's cabin is in the after part of the ship, near the steering room.
nautical: after part of a ship
Passengers on the after deck enjoyed the sunset over the ocean.
The plane's after cargo hold was loaded with luggage bound for Singapore.
The crew members sleep in cabins located in the after section of the vessel.
- fore
located at the front of a ship or aircraft
用法筆記
This sense is restricted to nautical and aviation contexts. In everyday English, 'rear' or 'back' is used instead. The opposite of 'after' (adj) is 'fore' or 'forward'.
常見錯誤
after — conjunction
1. at or during a time later than a particular event or action; once something has
at or during a time later than a particular event or action; once something has finished
After she finished her homework, Noa watched a movie with her little brother.
time clause: after + subject + past tense verb
Please call me after you arrive at the bus station in Taipei.
present tense in after-clause for future time
After the rain stopped, Amani and her friends went outside to play basketball.
I felt much better after I had taken the medicine the doctor gave me.
After Trang completes the training course, she will start working at the hospital.
- before
at a time earlier than an event
文法句型
after + subject + verb
用法筆記
In time clauses with 'after', use the present tense (not future) for future events: 'after I arrive' (not 'after I will arrive'). The past perfect ('had + past participle') emphasises that the first action was completed before the second.