After and before
Main uses of before (earlier than) and after (later than):
• As a preposition:
• As a preposition:
after lunch
before dinner
before dinner
After thanking them I left.
Before going to France, you should read the guide book.
Before going to France, you should read the guide book.
You shouldn't buy that expensive car. After all, you don't have that much money.
• As conjunctions:
After he told me the story, he left my house.
Before we start dinner, I would like to say something.
Before we start dinner, I would like to say something.
• At the end of a clause, as an adverb:
The criminal was stopped a month after he committed the crime.
He has written about this subject before.
I've seen him before.
Note: when 'after' or 'before' is followed by a verb, that verb can be in the '-ing' form, or be a conjugated verb with a subject.
After arriving at the hotel, Mr. Lee went straight to the reception desk.
Before I go to bed, I always say a prayer for my parents' good health.
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