Using antes de que/después de que with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish (subordinate time clauses) (Spain)
Note that this is a Europe focused lesson. Your active focus is Latin America.
Antes de que and después de que are the two most commonly-used conjunctions if we want to use a subordinate clause to express "before doing something" or "after doing something".
Antes (de) que...
Antes de que and Antes que are always followed by the subjunctive. For example:
Debo terminar esta redacción antes de que sean las diez.I must finish this essay before [it is] ten.
Antes que digas nada, yo no tuve la culpa.Before you say anything, it wasn't my fault.
Siempre hago una compra online antes de que mi frigorífico se vacíe.I always do my [food] shopping online before my fridge gets empty.
Pude terminar el examen antes de que sonara la campana.I managed to finish the exam before the bell rang.
The subordinate clauses using antes (de) que can refer to actions that happen in the future or the past.
Antes de que/Antes que does not admit the indicative. This would be incorrect:
Debo terminar esta redacción antes de que son las diez.
Pude terminar el examen antes de que sonó la campana.
Después (de) que...
Después de que/Después que can be followed by both the indicative and the subjunctive depending on when the event takes place.
- If it refers to a present event, we can only use the indicative.
For example:
Después de que Laura termina su clase de baile, su padre la recoge en el coche.After Laura finishes her dance class, her dad picks her up in his car.
- If it refers to a past event we can use both, the indicative or the subjunctive. Using one or the other does not change the meaning.
For example:
Después que su madre se lo prohibió, ella fue al concierto.After her mum banned (her from going), she went to the concert.
Después de que su madre se lo prohibiera, ella fue al concierto.After her mum banned (her from going), she went to the concert.
Después de que su madre se lo había prohibido ella fue al concierto.After her mum had banned her (from going) she went to the concert.
Después que su madre se lo hubiera prohibido ella fue al concierto.After her mum had banned her (from going) she went to the concert.
- If it refers to a future event we can only use the subjunctive.
Look at these correct and incorrect examples:
Después de que Laura termine su clase de baile, su padre la recogerá en su coche.After Laura finishes her dance class, her dad will pick her up in his car.
Después de que Laura termina su clase de baile, su padre la recogerá en su coche.
After Laura finishes her dance class, her dad picks her up in his car.
Saldremos a dar un paseo después de que hayas hecho tus deberes.We will go for a walk after you've finished your homework.
Saldremos a dar un paseo después de que has hecho tus deberes.
We will go for a walk after you've done your homework.
Apagaré la luz después de que te duermas.I will switch the light off after you fall asleep.
Apagaré la luz después de que te duermes.
I will switch off the light after you fall asleep.
Notice how the verb in the main clause is in the future.
Bear in mind that in spoken Spanish the use of these structures using the infinitive or the perfect infinitive (without "que") is more common:
Antes de + infinitive/perfect infinitive
Después de + infinitive/perfect infinitive
For example:
Antes de empezar a bailar, había bebido mucho.Before starting to dance/before I started to dance, I had drunk a lot.
Antes de haber empezado a bailar, había bebido mucho.Before having started to dance/before I had started to dance, I had drunk a lot.
Después de obtener los resultados de los exámenes, se irá de viaje.After receiving/after she receives her exam results, she will go on a trip.
Después de haber obtenido los resultados de los exámenes, se irá de viaje.After having received her exam results, she will go on a trip.
See also:
- Using antes de /después de [noun/infinitive] for before/after [something/doing something]
- Antes de/Después de followed by haber + participle in Spanish
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