Minuter vos actions: When, Before, After
when, before, after pour bien organiser tes actions dans le temps, c'est super clair !
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'when', 'before', and 'after' to connect two actions and show exactly when they happen in relation to each other.
- Use 'when' for two things happening at the same time: 'When it rains, I stay home.'
- Use 'before' for the first action in a sequence: 'Wash your hands before you eat.'
- Use 'after' for the second action in a sequence: 'I sleep after I finish work.'
Overview
when, before, et after.when, before et after, c'est passer d'une liste de faits isolés à un récit fluide et logique. C'est l'outil qui te permet de dire non seulement ce que tu fais, mais *quand* tu le fais par rapport au reste.When(Quand / Lorsque) : On l'utilise pour deux actions qui se produisent en même temps ou qui se suivent immédiatement. En anglais,whenest très polyvalent. Il peut exprimer une habitude, une vérité générale ou un moment précis dans le passé.- *Exemple :*
When I see him, I feel happy.(Quand je le vois, je me sens heureux.) Ici, l'action de voir et le sentiment sont quasi simultanés.
Before(Avant / Avant que / Avant de) : Ce mot indique que l'action de la proposition principale se produit *plus tôt* que celle de la proposition de temps.- *Exemple :*
Finish your coffee before you leave.(Finis ton café avant de partir.) L'action de finir le café doit précéder le départ.
After(Après / Après que / Après avoir) : C'est l'inverse debefore. L'action de la proposition principale se produit *plus tard* que celle introduite parafter.- *Exemple :*
After I eat, I usually take a walk.(Après avoir mangé, je fais généralement une promenade.) Le repas vient en premier, la marche en second.
- 1La proposition de temps en premier :
Conjunction + Subject + Verb , Subject + Verb (Main Clause)when, before ou after, tu dois mettre une virgule avant la suite de la phrase. C'est une aide visuelle pour ton lecteur.When the rain stops, we will go out.
- 1La proposition principale en premier :
Subject + Verb (Main Clause) + conjunction + Subject + VerbWe will go out when the rain stops.
Before I sleep, I read. | Oui (après 'sleep') |I read before I sleep. | Non |Quand je serai grand...(Futur). En anglais, après
when, before, ou after, on utilise le Present Simple pour parler du futur.will.- Français : Quand il arrivera, nous mangerons.
- Anglais :
When he arrives, we will eat.(Et non : ~~When he will arrive~~).
will.- Décrire des routines (Present Simple + Present Simple) :
I check my emails after I arrive at work.(Je vérifie mes mails après être arrivé au bureau.)Before I go to bed, I always brush my teeth.(Avant d'aller au lit, je me brosse toujours les dents.)
- Raconter des événements passés (Past Simple + Past Simple) :
When the taxi arrived, we put our bags in the trunk.(Quand le taxi est arrivé, nous avons mis nos sacs dans le coffre.)After the movie ended, we went to a restaurant.(Après que le film s'est terminé, nous sommes allés au restaurant.)
- Donner des instructions ou des conseils :
Wash the vegetables before you cut them.(Lave les légumes avant de les couper.)Click 'save' after you finish the document.(Clique sur 'sauvegarder' après avoir fini le document.)
- Planifier le futur (Present Simple + Future with Will) :
I will call you when I get home.(Je t'appellerai quand j'arriverai à la maison.)Before we start the meeting, let's have a coffee.(Avant de commencer la réunion, prenons un café.)
- 1L'utilisation de
willaprès le connecteur :
- *L'erreur :* ~~I will tell him when I will see him.~~
- *Pourquoi ça arrive :* En français, on utilise le futur après
quand(*quand je le verrai*). - *La correction :*
I will tell him when I see him.
- 1Confondre
Before+ Verbe etBefore+ Nom :
- *L'erreur :* ~~Before to go to the gym, I eat a banana.~~
- *Pourquoi ça arrive :* En français, on utilise
Avant de+ Infinitif. - *La correction :* En anglais, après
beforeouafter, on utilise soit une phrase complète (before I go), soit le Gérondif en-ing(before going). Ne mets jamais deto+ infinitif après ces mots. - *Correct :*
Before going to the gym...ouBefore I go to the gym...
- 1L'oubli de la virgule en début de phrase :
- *L'erreur :* ~~After I finish my work I go home.~~
- *Pourquoi ça arrive :* On oublie souvent que la virgule marque la fin de la condition temporelle.
- *La correction :*
After I finish my work, I go home.
- 1La confusion entre
AfteretAfterwards:
- *L'erreur :* ~~I ate dinner, after I watched TV.~~
- *L'explication :*
Aftera besoin d'être suivi de quelque chose (un nom ou un verbe). Si tu veux dire "Après, j'ai regardé la télésans rien ajouter après le mot
après", utiliseThenouAfterwards. - *Correct :*
I ate dinner. Then, I watched TV.ouI watched TV after dinner.
When/Before/After |While | Pendant que | Indique une action longue et continue (souvent avec le présent continu). When est plus ponctuel. |Until | Jusqu'à ce que | Indique la fin d'une durée. Before indique juste une antériorité. |Whenever | N'importe quand / Chaque fois que | Plus vague que when. Signifie que le moment précis n'importe pas. |When vs While :When the phone rang, I was sleeping.(Le téléphone a sonné à un moment précis).While I was sleeping, the phone rang.(Pendant la durée de mon sommeil).
Before vs Until :I need to finish this before 5 PM.(L'action doit être finie *avant* l'heure limite).I will work until 5 PM.(L'action continue *jusqu'au* moment de l'heure limite).
after avec un nom directement ?After, before et when (plus rarement pour ce dernier) peuvent fonctionner comme des prépositions. Tu peux dire After the meeting (Après la réunion) ou Before breakfast (Avant le petit-déjeuner). C'est même très courant et très naturel.Before to ?before et after) sont suivies soit d'un nom, soit d'un verbe en -ing. L'infinitif avec to n'est jamais utilisé après eux. C'est un automatisme à acquérir pour gommer ton accent grammatical français.When peut signifier If ?Zero Conditional), les deux sont interchangeables. When it rains, the grass gets wet ou If it rains, the grass gets wet. La différence est que when implique que l'événement va arriver avec certitude, alors que if laisse planer un doute.after pour un événement passé ?After I finished, I left. Plus tard, tu apprendras le Past Perfect (After I had finished), mais pour l'instant, le Past Simple est tout à fait correct et très utilisé par les natifs à l'oral.will juste après eux et de privilégier la forme en -ing si tu ne veux pas utiliser de sujet. C'est simple, logique, et cela rendra ton anglais beaucoup plus fluide.Tense Agreement with Time Conjunctions
| Timeframe | Time Clause Tense | Main Clause Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Routine
|
Present Simple
|
Present Simple
|
I eat before I work.
|
|
Past Event
|
Past Simple
|
Past Simple
|
I ate after I worked.
|
|
Future Plan
|
Present Simple
|
Future (Will)
|
I will eat when I arrive.
|
|
General Truth
|
Present Simple
|
Present Simple
|
When it rains, it gets wet.
|
Reduced Time Clauses (Intermediate/Advanced)
| Full Form | Reduced Form | Note |
|---|---|---|
|
After I finished...
|
After finishing...
|
Subject must be the same
|
|
Before you leave...
|
Before leaving...
|
Common in instructions
|
|
When I am at work...
|
When at work...
|
Omits 'Subject + be'
|
Meanings
Temporal conjunctions are words used to connect two clauses (parts of a sentence) to indicate the chronological order or simultaneous nature of events.
Simultaneous or Immediate Sequence
Using 'when' to show that one event happens at the same time as another, or immediately after it.
“When the bell rings, the class starts.”
“I felt happy when I saw my test results.”
Prior Action
Using 'before' to indicate that the action in the main clause happens earlier than the action in the 'before' clause.
“Check your bag before you leave the house.”
“I always drink water before I go for a run.”
Subsequent Action
Using 'after' to indicate that the action in the main clause happens later than the action in the 'after' clause.
“After I finish my homework, I will play video games.”
“We went for a walk after the rain stopped.”
Reference Table
| Conjonction | Signification | Exemple (Futur) | Exemple (Passé) | Règle de la virgule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
when
|
Au même moment / Dès que
|
When I arrive, I'll call you.
|
When I called, she answered.
|
Oui, si la proposition commence la phrase
|
|
before
|
Avant cette action
|
Before you leave, close the window.
|
She ate before she left.
|
Oui, si la proposition commence la phrase
|
|
after
|
Après cette action
|
After I finish, I'll go out.
|
He slept after he ate.
|
Oui, si la proposition commence la phrase
|
Spectre de formalité
I shall contact you upon my arrival. (Travel communication)
I will call you when I arrive. (Travel communication)
I'll buzz ya when I'm there. (Travel communication)
Hit me up when u land. (Travel communication)
Organiser tes actions : When, Before, After
When
- Simultané At the same time
- Séquence Immédiate As soon as
- Événements Futurs Present tense in 'when' clause
Before
- Action Précédente Prior to
- Instructions Do this first
- Nom/Gérondif Before lunch, Before leaving
After
- Action Suivante Following
- Résultats Then this happened
- Nom/Gérondif After work, After eating
When, Before, After : En un coup d'œil
Choisir la bonne conjonction de temps
Deux actions se produisent-elles en même temps, ou l'une immédiatement après l'autre ?
Une action se produit-elle *avant* une autre ?
Une action se produit-elle *après* une autre ?
Connecteurs de temps en contexte
Routines Quotidiennes
- • I drink coffee after I wake up.
- • Before I leave, I check my keys.
Projets Futurs
- • When I get home, I'll call you.
- • Let's meet after class.
Événements Passés
- • She laughed when she heard the joke.
- • He left before I arrived.
Instructions
- • Wash hands before you eat.
- • Close the app after you save.
Exemples par niveau
I wash my hands before I eat.
Me lavo las manos antes de comer.
After dinner, I watch TV.
Después de la cena, veo la televisión.
When I am sad, I cry.
Cuando estoy triste, lloro.
I go home when the work is finished.
Me voy a casa cuando el trabajo termina.
Before you go to bed, turn off the lights.
Antes de irte a la cama, apaga las luces.
I felt very tired after I ran five kilometers.
Me sentí muy cansado después de correr cinco kilómetros.
When the taxi arrives, please tell me.
Cuando llegue el taxi, por favor dímelo.
We need to buy tickets before we enter the museum.
Necesitamos comprar boletos antes de entrar al museo.
I had already finished the report when my boss asked for it.
Ya había terminado el informe cuando mi jefe lo pidió.
After living in London for a year, her English improved.
Después de vivir en Londres por un año, su inglés mejoró.
Make sure you save the file before closing the program.
Asegúrate de guardar el archivo antes de cerrar el programa.
When I was traveling in Japan, I ate sushi every day.
Cuando estaba viajando por Japón, comía sushi todos los días.
The match was cancelled when it started to pour with rain.
El partido fue cancelado cuando empezó a llover a cántaros.
Before making a decision, we should consider all the options.
Antes de tomar una decisión, deberíamos considerar todas las opciones.
After having studied all night, he was exhausted during the exam.
Después de haber estudiado toda la noche, estaba agotado durante el examen.
When confronted with the evidence, he admitted his mistake.
Al ser confrontado con la evidencia, admitió su error.
Hardly had I stepped outside when it began to snow.
Apenas había salido cuando empezó a nevar.
Before long, the small startup had grown into a global corporation.
En poco tiempo, la pequeña startup se había convertido en una corporación global.
After what seemed like an eternity, the results were finally announced.
Después de lo que pareció una eternidad, los resultados fueron finalmente anunciados.
When viewed from this perspective, the problem is quite simple.
Visto desde esta perspectiva, el problema es bastante simple.
The bill was passed only after much deliberation and heated debate.
El proyecto de ley fue aprobado solo después de mucha deliberación y debate acalorado.
Before the advent of the internet, information was much harder to access.
Antes del advenimiento de internet, la información era mucho más difícil de acceder.
When all is said and done, the project was a resounding success.
Al fin y al cabo, el proyecto fue un éxito rotundo.
He was named after his grandfather, a tradition common in his family.
Le pusieron el nombre de su abuelo, una tradición común en su familia.
Facile à confondre
Both relate to time, but 'while' is for long actions.
'After' is a conjunction; 'afterwards' is an adverb.
Erreurs courantes
I eat after go home.
I eat after I go home.
Before I eat I wash hands.
Before I eat, I wash my hands.
I will call you when I will arrive.
I will call you when I arrive.
I cook after I eat.
I eat after I cook.
After to finish work, I went home.
After finishing work, I went home.
Hardly I had arrived when it rained.
Hardly had I arrived when it rained.
Structures de phrases
When ___, I ___.
I will ___ after I ___.
Real World Usage
Add the salt after the water boils.
Before I joined Google, I worked at a startup.
When you reach the roundabout, take the second exit.
Me when I finally finish my exams.
Take this medicine before you eat breakfast.
Please have your passport ready before you reach the gate.
La virgule, amie de la clarté !
Before you leave, close the window.mais
Close the window before you leave.
Pas de 'will' après ces mots !
When I arrive, pas When I will arrive.
Le pouvoir du -ing (gérondif) !
Before eating, wash your hands.ou
After finishing work, I go to the gym.C'est rapide et efficace !
La clarté, c'est important !
I always plan my day before starting work.
Écoute les natifs !
She always laughs when he tells a joke.
Smart Tips
Start your sentences with 'Before' or 'After' to make the steps very clear.
Check if you used 'will' after 'when'. If yes, delete it!
Use the -ing form after 'before' and 'after' when the subject is the same.
Read the sentence aloud. If you naturally pause in the middle, you probably need a comma there.
Prononciation
The 'When' Wh- sound
In most modern dialects, 'when' is pronounced with a simple /w/ sound, identical to 'wen'.
Sentence Stress
The stress usually falls on the main verbs, not the conjunctions.
Comma Pause
Before I eat [pause], I wash my hands.
A slight rise in pitch before the comma indicates the sentence is not finished.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
B-A-W: Before (1st), After (2nd), When (Same time).
Association visuelle
Imagine a train track. 'Before' is the engine, 'After' is the caboose, and 'When' is two trains passing each other at the station.
Rhyme
Before you go, let me know. After you arrive, stay alive. When we meet, it's a treat!
Story
I woke up. BEFORE I brushed my teeth, I drank water. AFTER I brushed my teeth, I felt fresh. WHEN I looked in the mirror, I smiled.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about your morning routine using each word once. Check your commas!
Notes culturelles
British speakers often use 'just' with 'when' to emphasize immediacy: 'I had just arrived when it started raining.'
In casual US speech, 'after' is sometimes replaced by 'once': 'Once I finish, I'll come over.'
In business, 'before' is often replaced by 'prior to' for a more formal tone.
Old English 'hwanne' (when), 'be-foran' (before), and 'æfter' (after).
Amorces de conversation
What do you usually do after you wake up?
What will you do when you finish this lesson?
Tell me about a time you were surprised when you opened a gift.
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Please turn off the lights ___ you leave the room.
Choose the correct sentence:
Find and fix the mistake:
She always eats breakfast after she will wake up.
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesI always brush my teeth ___ I go to bed.
Find and fix the mistake:
I will call you when I will arrive home.
___ it rains, the grass gets wet.
after / I / work / go / I / gym / the / finish / to
1. Before I sleep... / 2. After I wake up... / 3. When it's cold...
Identify the sentence that requires a comma.
Turn off the oven ___ the cake is finished.
Find and fix the mistake:
I put on my shoes after I put on my socks.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI felt much better ___ I took the medicine.
Which sentence uses the comma correctly?
He will call you when he will arrive.
Translate: 'Llamaré a mi madre después de que termine mi trabajo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
Always brush your teeth ___ you go to bed.
Select the correct sentence:
Don't talk before you think.
Translate: 'Cuando llueve, leo un libro.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
She decided to review her notes ___ the exam.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes, but use the present simple tense in the 'when' clause. Example: `When I see him, I'll tell him.`
`After` is a conjunction (needs a clause: After I eat...), while `afterwards` is an adverb (I ate, and afterwards I slept).
Only if `before` starts the sentence. `Before I go, I'll call.` vs `I'll call before I go.`
Yes! `After eating` is a shorter, more natural way to say `After I eat` if the subject is the same.
`When` implies certainty (it will happen), while `if` implies a possibility (it might happen).
Absolutely. It is very common in storytelling and instructions. Just remember the comma!
In English, conjunctions like `before` and `after` are followed by a clause (subject + verb) or a gerund (-ing), never an infinitive.
`Whenever` means 'at any time that' or 'every time that', whereas `when` usually refers to a specific time.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
cuando, antes de, después de
English does not use the subjunctive in future time clauses.
とき (toki), まえに (mae ni), あとで (ato de)
Word order is reversed compared to English.
wenn/als, bevor, nachdem
German has two words for 'when' depending on the tense/frequency.
quand, avant, après
French uses future tense in time clauses; English uses present.
عندما (indama), قبل (qabla), بعد (ba'da)
Arabic conjunctions can change form based on the following noun or verb.
的时候 (de shihou), 以前 (yiqian), 以后 (yihou)
Chinese uses post-positions for time, while English uses pre-positions/conjunctions.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vidéos associées
Top 3 Google Play Google I/O 2025 announcements
The Horror of the Slaver Ant
What Dinosaurs ACTUALLY Looked Like?
How to Use Subordinating Conjunctions for Better English
ENGLISH with James · engVid
Subordinating Conjunctions | Learn about how to use subordinating conjunctions
Learn Bright
Conjunctions for Kids | Learn about coordinating, correlative, and subordinating conjunctions
Learn Bright
Related Grammar Rules
Idées Opposées : Utiliser 'Conversely' et 'By Contrast'
### Overview Pour toi, étudiant de niveau B2 qui cherche à affiner son anglais pour atteindre une fluidité académique o...
Utiliser 'As a Matter of Fact' pour l'Emphase et la Correction
Overview Avez-vous déjà vu quelqu'un supposer que vous étiez débutant alors que vous étiez en réalité un expert ? Peut-...
Récapituler: 'In Sum' & 'To Recapitulate'
Overview Vous est-il déjà arrivé de parler pendant dix minutes lors d'un appel Zoom ? Vos amis ont l'air confus. Votre...
Conjunctions: And, But, Or, So, Because
## Conjunctions: And, But, Or, So, Because Conjunctions are **joining words** that connect two ideas. ### And — adds i...
Ordonner ses idées : Ensuite, puis, enfin (Then, Next, Finally)
### Overview Tu sais, quand on commence à apprendre l'anglais, on a souvent l'impression de parler par « blocs » isolés...