“Before” or “After”?

When do we use before and after?

Before means “earlier than” something: Wash your hands before you eat. After means “later than” something: We went home after the film.

Both words can be followed by a noun (before lunch, after the meeting), by a verb + -ing (before going out, after finishing my homework), or by a whole clause (before you leave, after she arrived).

Future meaning: use the present simple, not “will”, after before and after — I’ll call you after I arrive. (not “after I will arrive”).

Useful expressions: before long (= soon), after all, the day before yesterday, the day after tomorrow. Before can also be an adverb meaning “at an earlier time”: I have seen this film before.