Antes de/Después de/Luego de followed by haber + participle in Spanish

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2024-10-28
2 questions

Let's look at a way of expressing actions that we do before or after doing or having done something else, using antes de, después de and luego de.

Learn how to say before and after doing something in Spanish

To say "before/after doing something" we use:

Antes de/ después de/Luego de +  Infinitivo (not gerund)

For example: "Leo antes de acostarme", "Después de cenar/Luego de cenar no tomo café." See Using antes de /después de [noun/infinitive] for before/after [something/doing something] to revise this.

Learn how to say before and after "having done" something in Spanish

If you want to express "before/after having done something", then you need El Infinitivo Compuesto.

Antes de... = before...

Después de.../Luego de...= after...

Note that luego de... is slightly more formal than después de...

Antes de/ Después de/Luego de + El Infinitivo Compuesto (= haber + participle)

Important

Using haber + El Infinitivo Compuesto emphasises the completion of the action of the main verb in the past.

For example: "Antes de desayunar"
does not emphasise the completion of the action of having breakfast: desayunar. 

Compare this to "Antes de haber desayunado".
Here there is an emphasis on the action of having breakfast being completed: haber desayunado.)

Here are some examples:

Hizo su examen antes de haber repasado.He did his exam before having revised [US: reviewed].

Deberías haberme consultado antes de haber llamado a sus padres.You should have consulted me before calling his parents. [lit: before having called]

Después de haber quitado todas las malas hierbas del jardín, empecé a plantar.After having cleared the garden of all the weeds, I started planting.

Luego de haber firmado el contrato, el cliente se marchó.After having signed the contract, the client left.

Después de haberte ido tú, llegaron los demás.After you had left, the others arrived. [lit: after having gone]

Luego de haber falsificado la firma, lo confesó todo a la policía.After having forged the signature, he confessed everything to the police.

 

  • Sometimes pronouns are attached to "haber", e.g "haberte ido". Pronouns must always be attached to haber, not the participle nor placed in front, nor in between the two. For example none of these constructions are possible: "Después de te haber ido."/"Después de haber te ido."/ Después de haber ido te."
  • The equivalent in English isn't always a literal translation, so you may find it is expressed differently in English. For example: "Luego de haberte ido" = After you had left.

 See also Using antes de que/después de que/luego de que with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish (subordinate time clauses) (LatAm)

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

Después de haberte ido tú, llegaron los demás.After you had left, the others arrived. [lit: after having gone]
Deberías haberme consultado antes de haber llamado a sus padres.You should have consulted me before calling his parents. [lit: before having called]
Compré el primer vestido que había visto, después de haber mirado en varias tiendas.I bought the first dress I had seen, after having looked in different shops.
Luego de haber firmado el contrato, el cliente se marchó.After having signed the contract, the client left.
Luego de haber falsificado la firma, lo confesó todo a la policía.After having forged the signature, he confessed everything to the police.
Hizo su examen antes de haber repasado.He did his exam before having revised [US: reviewed].
Después de haber quitado todas las malas hierbas del jardín, empecé a plantar.After having cleared the garden of all the weeds, I started planting.
Clever stuff happening!