Learn how to use temporal expressions 'Antes', 'Antes de', 'Después', 'Después de', and 'Cuando' in Spanish. This lesson explains their usage with examples, highlighting important grammar rules for indicating past habits, sequential actions, and specific moments. Vital for mastering sentence structure around time and routine in Spanish.
- Antes de + infinitivo indicates an action that happens first.
- Después de + infinitivo indicates a subsequent action.
- Antes and después without "de" are used with a conjugated verb.
| Expresión (Expression) | Uso (Use) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Antes + indicativo | Situación pasada habitual (Habitual past situation) | Antes tenía alergia. |
| Antes de + infinitivo | Acción previa (Previous action) | Uso desodorante antes de salir. |
| Después + indicativo | Acción posterior (Subsequent action) | Después dormiré. |
| Después de + infinitivo | Acción posterior inmediata (Immediate subsequent action) | Me cepillo después de comer. |
| Cuando + indicativo | Momento específico (Specific moment) | Uso crema cuando la necesito. |
Exercise 1: Usos de "Antes", "Antes de", "Después", "Después de", "Cuando"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
antes de, Después, Antes, cuando, Cuando, después de
1.
Situación pasada habitual:
: ... llevaba siempre las manos sucias.
(I used to always have dirty hands.)
2.
Acción previa:
: Me cepillo los dientes ... desayunar.
(I brush my teeth before having breakfast.)
3.
Acción posterior inmediata:
: Uso colonia ... lavarme la cara.
(I use aftershave after washing my face.)
4.
Acción posterior:
: ... saldré a comprar pasta de dientes.
(Afterwards, I will go out to buy toothpaste.)
5.
Momento específico:
: Uso crema ... tengo la piel seca.
(I use cream when my skin is dry.)
6.
Momento específico:
: Usaba gel ... tenía el pelo sucio.
(I used gel when my hair was dirty.)
7.
Acción posterior inmediata:
: Uso champú ... mojarme el pelo.
(I use shampoo after wetting my hair.)
8.
Momento específico:
: ... me voy a la playa, necesito poner la crema.
(When I go to the beach, I need to put on the cream.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses 'Before', 'Before (doing something)', 'After', 'After (doing something)' or 'When' to talk about routines and personal hygiene.
1.
Incorrect, the preposition 'before' is missing before the infinitive.
Incorrect, 'before than' is not used with infinitive in English.
2.
Incorrect, the verb 'get up' is not correctly conjugated after 'when'.
Incorrect, the verb following 'when' must be conjugated, not in infinitive.
3.
Incorrect, the preposition 'before' is missing before the infinitive.
Incorrect in this context because 'after' with a conjugated verb indicates a habitual subsequent action, but here an immediately subsequent action with the infinitive is intended.
4.
Incorrect in the reflexive expression; the correct reflexive pronoun for the personal action is missing: it must be 'washing my hands'.
Incorrect, 'before' must be followed by the infinitive without a separate pronoun; the pronoun must attach to the infinitive: 'before washing'.
