10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Master time-related expressions in Spanish with 'antes', 'antes de', 'después', 'después de', and 'cuando', learning how to use them to describe habitual past actions and sequence events clearly.
  1. Antes de + infinitivo indicates an action that happens first.
  2. Después de + infinitivo indicates a subsequent action.
  3. Antes and después without "de" are used with a conjugated verb.
Expresión (Expression)Uso (Use)Ejemplo (Example)
Antes + indicativoSituación pasada habitual (Habitual past situation)Antes tenía alergia.
Antes de + infinitivoAcción previa (Previous action)Uso desodorante antes de salir.
Después + indicativoAcción posterior  (Subsequent action)Después dormiré.
Después de + infinitivoAcción posterior inmediata (Immediate subsequent action)Me cepillo después de comer.
Cuando + indicativoMomento 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.

Show translation Show answers

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 'Antes', 'Antes de', 'Después', 'Después de' or 'Cuando' to talk about routines and personal hygiene.

1.
Incorrect, the preposition 'de' is missing before the infinitive.
'Antes que' is not used with infinitive in Spanish.
2.
Incorrect, the verb 'levantar' is not properly conjugated after 'cuando'.
Incorrect, the verb following 'cuando' must be conjugated, not in infinitive.
3.
Incorrect, the preposition 'de' is missing before the infinitive.
Incorrect in this context because 'después' with a conjugated verb indicates a habitual subsequent action, but here the immediately subsequent action with infinitive is wanted.
4.
Incorrect reflexive expression; the correct reflexive pronoun is missing for the personal action: it should be 'lavarme'.
'Antes de' must be followed by an infinitive without a separate pronoun; the pronoun must be attached to the infinitive: 'antes de lavarme'.

Uses of "Antes", "Antes de", "Después", "Después de", and "Cuando" in Spanish

This lesson focuses on expressions that indicate temporal order and timing in Spanish. Specifically, you will learn how to use the words "antes" (before), "después" (after), and "cuando" (when) correctly in different grammatical structures to talk about past actions, habitual routines, and actions that happen before or after others.

1. Understanding "Antes" and "Antes de"

Antes + indicative verb: Used to describe habitual actions or situations in the past.

Example: "Antes tenía alergia." (Before, I had allergies.)

Antes de + infinitive: Indicates an action that happens prior to another action.

Example: "Uso desodorante antes de salir." (I use deodorant before going out.)

2. Understanding "Después" and "Después de"

Después + indicative verb: Describes an action that happens afterward.

Example: "Después dormiré." (Afterwards, I will sleep.)

Después de + infinitive: Refers to an action that occurs immediately after another.

Example: "Me cepillo después de comer." (I brush my teeth after eating.)

3. Using "Cuando"

Cuando + indicative verb: Marks a specific moment or time when something happens.

Example: "Uso crema cuando la necesito." (I use cream when I need it.)

Key Points

  • "Antes de" and "Después de" are followed by an infinitive verb to indicate actions occurring before or after another action.
  • "Antes" and "Después" without "de" are used with a conjugated verb to express habitual or past actions.
  • "Cuando" is always followed by a conjugated verb and expresses the timing of a specific event.

Differences Between Spanish and English Temporal Expressions

In English, "before" and "after" are usually followed by verbs with -ing or clauses starting with "that" or "when." In Spanish, when you want to talk about actions occurring before or after another (especially in routines or sequential activities), you often use "antes de" or "después de" followed directly by the infinitive verb. Also, "antes" and "después" can be used alone with a conjugated verb, often indicating habitual actions in the past or future.

Useful phrases and their differences:

  • Antes de + infinitive: "Antes de salir" = "Before going out" (not "before to go")
  • Después de + infinitive: "Después de comer" = "After eating"
  • Antes + indicative: "Antes tenía alergia" = "I used to have allergies before"
  • Cuando + indicative: "Cuando llego" = "When I arrive"

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 16:26