Séquence Formelle : Subsequently & Thereafter
subsequently pour les conséquences directes, et thereafter pour les points temporels et tu feras passer ton anglais formel au niveau supérieur !
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'subsequently' and 'thereafter' to link events chronologically in formal writing, replacing basic words like 'then' or 'after that'.
- Use 'subsequently' for events following another in a series. Example: 'He resigned and subsequently left the country.'
- Use 'thereafter' to mean 'from that time forward'. Example: 'The policy changed; thereafter, profits rose.'
- Place 'subsequently' before the verb or at the start of a clause with a comma.
Overview
then quinze fois ? Cela nous arrive à tous. Vous voulez avoir l'air intelligent.then est un peu... basique.subsequently et thereafter.then. Ils indiquent à votre lecteur que vous comprenez parfaitement comment le temps s'écoule. Ils rendent vos publications LinkedIn professionnelles et font briller vos essais académiques.first, next et then. C'est parfait pour les débutants A1.Subsequently et thereafter sont des connecteurs. Ils relient deux événements.How This Grammar Works
Subsequently est très proche de afterwards.Thereafter est un peu plus spécifique.à partir de ce moment-làou
après ce point précis. Imaginez une chronologie. Vous marquez un point.
thereafter.
Formation Pattern
Subsequently, [Phrase B]. (Notez la virgule après le mot !)
thereafter, [Phrase B].
subsequently remporté un prix.
When To Use It
- Réseaux sociaux : Utilisez-les dans un long post LinkedIn sur votre parcours professionnel.
- Entretiens d'embauche : Utilisez-les pour décrire votre expérience sur Zoom.
- Support technique : Pour expliquer un bug ou un problème.
Common Mistakes
- 1L'utiliser à l'oral : Ne dites pas à un ami : "Je suis allé à la salle et
subsequentlyj'ai acheté un shake protéiné". - 2Oublier la virgule : Lorsque vous commencez une phrase par
subsequently, vous DEVEZ mettre une virgule.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
then ?then: Familier. Utilisé à l'oral. Court.subsequently: Formel. Utilisé à l'écrit. Long et élégant.
Quick FAQ
subsequently est plus formel que thereafter ?R: C'est à peu près la même chose. Subsequently est plus courant dans les affaires. Thereafter fait un peu plus 'juridique' ou 'vieux style'.
Sentence Position and Function
| Position | Word | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Initial
|
Subsequently,
|
Connects two sentences
|
Subsequently, the plan changed.
|
|
Medial
|
...subsequently...
|
Modifies the verb directly
|
He was subsequently fired.
|
|
Final
|
...thereafter.
|
Indicates a continuing state
|
They lived there thereafter.
|
|
Post-Semicolon
|
; thereafter,
|
Links independent clauses
|
He left; thereafter, all was quiet.
|
|
Pre-Verb
|
subsequently [verb]
|
Shows immediate sequence
|
She subsequently realized her error.
|
Meanings
Formal adverbs used to indicate that one event happens after another in time or sequence.
Sequential Action
Used to describe an action that follows another as part of a logical or chronological chain.
“The data was collected and subsequently analyzed by the research team.”
“He was injured in the first half and subsequently replaced.”
Continuous State Following an Event
Used with 'thereafter' to describe a state or habit that began after a specific point in time and continued.
“They married in 1950 and lived in London thereafter.”
“The contract was terminated; thereafter, no further payments were made.”
Logical Consequence
Occasionally implies that the second event happened because of the first, though the primary meaning is temporal.
“The market crashed, and subsequently, many investors lost their savings.”
“The error was discovered, and the software was subsequently patched.”
Reference Table
| Adverbe | Signification | Cas d'utilisation | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subsequently
|
Comme un résultat direct ; après quelque chose d'autre
|
Cause à effet, progression logique
|
The merger occurred, and `subsequently`, profits rose.
|
|
Thereafter
|
À partir de ce moment ou de ce point précis
|
Établir un repère temporel, succession générale
|
She moved abroad; `thereafter`, her visits were rare.
|
|
Subsequently
|
Qui suit dans l'ordre ou dans le temps
|
Détailler les étapes de procédure dans les rapports
|
The experiment concluded. `Subsequently`, data was analyzed.
|
|
Thereafter
|
Après ce moment-là
|
Conditions légales, schémas à long terme
|
Deposit due now, `thereafter` monthly payments.
|
|
Subsequently
|
Par conséquent, en temps voulu
|
Expliquer les résultats des actions
|
He neglected his studies and `subsequently` failed the exam.
|
|
Thereafter
|
À partir de là
|
Périodes historiques, changements de vie personnels
|
They married in '98; `thereafter`, built a family.
|
Spectre de formalité
The board met in the morning and subsequently issued a statement. (Corporate communication)
The board met this morning and then gave a statement. (Corporate communication)
The board had a meeting and later they said something. (Corporate communication)
The big bosses met up and then dropped a message. (Corporate communication)
Séquençage Formel : Subsequently & Thereafter
Subsequently
- Conséquence Directe Résultat de l'événement précédent
- Étape Logique Suivante Ce qui suit naturellement
- Exemple Policy announced, subsequently morale improved.
Thereafter
- À Partir de Ce Moment-Là Continuant à partir d'un moment spécifique
- Repère Temporel Établit une heure de début pour la durée
- Exemple Moved in 2020, thereafter visited rarely.
Points Communs
- Registre Formel Utilisé dans l'académique, le business, le juridique
- Adverbes Modifient les verbes, adjectifs, autres adverbes
- Ponctuation Souvent suivi d'une virgule si en début de proposition
Subsequently vs. Thereafter : La Nuance
Choisir Subsequently ou Thereafter
Décris-tu une conséquence directe ou une prochaine étape logique immédiate ?
Décris-tu quelque chose qui se produit continuellement ou à plusieurs reprises à partir d'un point précis dans le temps ?
Où les Trouver
Académique
- • Articles de recherche
- • Thèses
- • Articles scientifiques
- • Notes de cours
Affaires
- • Rapports
- • Propositions
- • Contrats
- • Documents de politique
Juridique
- • Mémoires
- • Accords
- • Statuts
- • Jugements
Narratif Formel
- • Récits historiques
- • Biographies
- • Manuels techniques
- • Communications officielles
Exemples par niveau
He ate lunch and then he slept.
He ate lunch and subsequently he slept.
I saw him. After that, I went home.
I saw him. Subsequently, I went home.
She was happy after that day.
She was happy thereafter.
The rain stopped. Then the sun came out.
The rain stopped. Subsequently, the sun came out.
The meeting ended, and subsequently, we left.
The meeting ended, and afterwards, we left.
He moved to Paris and lived there thereafter.
He moved to Paris and lived there from then on.
The shop closed; subsequently, a new one opened.
The shop closed; later, a new one opened.
They finished the project and were subsequently promoted.
They finished the project and were later promoted.
The suspect was arrested and subsequently charged with theft.
The suspect was arrested and later charged with theft.
The law was changed in 2010; thereafter, taxes were lower.
The law was changed in 2010; after that, taxes were lower.
He lost his job and subsequently struggled to pay rent.
He lost his job and as a result/later struggled to pay rent.
The treaty was signed, and peace prevailed thereafter.
The treaty was signed, and peace lasted from that point on.
The initial findings were promising; subsequently, a larger study was commissioned.
The first results were good; later, a bigger study was started.
The CEO resigned, and the company's stock price subsequently plummeted.
The CEO left, and then the stock price fell quickly.
She graduated in June and was employed by the firm thereafter.
She finished school in June and worked for the company from then on.
The building was damaged by fire and subsequently demolished.
The building was burnt and later torn down.
The defendant was found guilty and subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison.
The person was convicted and later given a ten-year sentence.
The region gained independence in 1960; thereafter, it underwent rapid industrialization.
The area became free in 1960; from that point, it grew industrially.
The manuscript was rejected by several publishers but was subsequently hailed as a masterpiece.
The book was first turned down but later called a great work.
The policy was implemented in January, and all subsequent disputes were handled thereafter by the new committee.
The rule started in January, and later problems were solved by the new group.
The monarch’s health declined rapidly, and the prince was subsequently appointed regent.
The king got sick, and the prince was later made the temporary ruler.
The agreement shall remain in force for five years and shall be renewed annually thereafter.
The deal lasts five years and will be updated every year after that.
The theory was initially dismissed as radical, yet it was subsequently integrated into the core curriculum.
The idea was first seen as too much, but later it became part of standard teaching.
He renounced his citizenship in 1995 and lived as a stateless person thereafter.
He gave up his country in 1995 and had no country from then on.
Facile à confondre
Learners think they both mean 'as a result'.
Learners try to pluralize the adverb.
Erreurs courantes
I eat lunch subsequently I go to work.
I eat lunch and then I go to work.
Subsequently the movie, we ate.
After the movie, we ate.
He was thereafter promoted.
He was subsequently promoted.
The company failed, subsequently, many people lost jobs.
The company failed; subsequently, many people lost jobs.
Structures de phrases
The ___ was completed, and ___ was subsequently ___.
He moved to ___ in ___ and lived there thereafter.
Real World Usage
The samples were heated and subsequently observed under a microscope.
The tenant shall maintain the garden thereafter.
The suspect fled the scene and was subsequently captured.
I completed my internship and was subsequently offered a full-time role.
He lost the election and retired from public life thereafter.
Please review the attached file; we will subsequently discuss it in the meeting.
Le Contexte, C'est Sacré !
subsequently et thereafter sont parfaits. Pour un chat entre potes, utilise plutôt then ou after that, sinon tu auras l'air d'un robot : "I'll call you then."N'en Fais Pas Trop
First, we decided; then we acted.
Retiens la Nuance !
Subsequently sous-entend une conséquence directe, une étape logique. Thereafter indique que quelque chose se passe *à partir de ce moment-là*. Cette petite distinction est cruciale pour la précision : The meeting concluded; subsequently, decisions were circulated.
Professionnalisme International
The report was published, and thereafter, it became a reference.
La Ponctuation Compte
subsequently ou thereafter ouvrent une nouvelle proposition, ils sont presque toujours suivis d'une virgule. Fais attention à ta ponctuation pour être clair et formel : Subsequently, the results were announced.
Smart Tips
Replace the second 'then' with 'subsequently' to improve the flow and variety of your writing.
Use 'thereafter' to define what happens after a specific milestone or date.
Use 'subsequently' for the next event and 'thereafter' for the long-term result.
If 'subsequently' starts the sentence, use a comma. If it's in the middle, you usually don't need one.
Prononciation
Stress on 'subsequently'
The primary stress is on the first syllable: SUB-se-quent-ly.
Stress on 'thereafter'
The primary stress is on the second syllable: there-AF-ter.
Falling intonation at sentence start
Subsequently, ↘ the results were verified.
Indicates a transition to a new point in a sequence.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
SUBsequently is like a SUBway train—one car follows the other in a line. ThereAFTER is like the AFTERmath—the time that stays after the event is gone.
Association visuelle
Imagine a row of dominos falling. Each domino falling is 'subsequently'. Now imagine a clock that starts ticking at the moment the last domino falls and never stops. That continuous ticking is 'thereafter'.
Rhyme
When one thing follows in a sequence, Subsequently shows the consequence. When time flows on from a certain date, Thereafter describes the future state.
Story
A scientist discovered a new element. Subsequently, she published her findings in a major journal. The world of chemistry was changed forever; thereafter, she was known as the 'Mother of Modern Elements'.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about your last job or school project using 'subsequently' at least once and 'thereafter' at least once.
Notes culturelles
In the UK, 'subsequently' is very common in BBC news reporting to maintain a neutral, authoritative tone.
In contracts, 'thereafter' is a 'term of art' used to avoid repeating dates and to ensure no gaps in time coverage.
Using these words is often a requirement for high-scoring essays in universities in the US, Canada, and Australia.
'Subsequently' comes from the Latin 'subsequent-' meaning 'following close after'. 'Thereafter' is an Old English compound of 'there' and 'after'.
Amorces de conversation
Can you describe a major change in your life and what happened thereafter?
Tell me about a project you finished. What did you subsequently do to celebrate?
In your opinion, if a company fails, what subsequently happens to the local economy?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
The experimental data was gathered, and ___ analyzed by the research team.
Find and fix the mistake:
She founded the startup in 2020, and subsequently, she grew it into a multinational corporation.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El documento fue redactado, y a partir de entonces, se convirtió en la política oficial.'
Answer starts with: ["T...
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesThe company went public in 2005; its value ___ tripled.
He resigned from the board and was never seen in the office ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Subsequently the storm, the power went out.
He finished his degree and then moved to London.
Match the following:
Select the correct sentence:
A: When was the error found? B: It was found during the audit and ___ fixed.
'Subsequently' can be used as a preposition followed by a noun.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe funding proposal was accepted, and ___ construction began on the new facility.
She moved to Paris for work, and subsequently, she explored all of Europe.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El contrato fue rescindido, y a partir de ese momento, ya no tuvo obligaciones.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the scenarios with the correct adverb:
The company relocated to Singapore in 2022, and ___ established its regional headquarters.
The new law was enacted, and thereafter, all citizens must comply with its provisions.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Después de la reunión, la decisión fue comunicada a todos los miembros del equipo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the adverbs with their function:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It is rare. Usually, 'subsequently' is placed before the verb or at the start of a clause. 'Thereafter' is much more common at the end of a sentence.
No. 'Subsequently' means 'afterwards' (time). 'Consequently' means 'as a result' (cause).
Always use a comma after it: 'Subsequently, the project was cancelled.'
It depends on the culture. In a law firm or bank, it's fine. In a tech startup, it might sound a bit stiff.
Yes, 'subsequent to' is a formal prepositional phrase. 'Subsequent to the meeting, we had lunch.'
Not necessarily. In legal contracts, it can refer to the future: 'The fee shall be $100 in 2025 and $150 thereafter.'
The opposite is 'heretofore' or 'prior to that', though these are even more formal.
Because science requires a precise description of steps in an experiment, and 'subsequently' provides that without sounding repetitive.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Posteriormente / A partir de entonces
Spanish often uses 'luego' which is much more common than 'subsequently' is in English.
Par la suite / Ultérieurement
French speakers often over-rely on 'après' when they should use these more formal terms in English.
Anschließend / Danach
German word order (V2) means these adverbs often trigger a verb-subject inversion, which doesn't happen in English.
その後 (Sono go) / 以後 (Igo)
Japanese connectors often appear at the very start of a sentence with a specific particle like 'wa' or 'ni'.
بعد ذلك (Ba'da dhalika) / من ثم (Min thamma)
Arabic often uses 'wa' (and) to link sequences where English would use a more specific adverb.
随后 (Suìhòu) / 此后 (Cǐhòu)
Chinese does not require the same punctuation (semicolons) to link these clauses.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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