A2 Prepositions & Postpositions 16 min read Easy

Persian Time Prepositions: Before & After (ghabl az / ba'd az)

Mastering ghabl az and ba'd az lets you schedule hangouts and tell stories in perfect chronological order.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ghabl az' for before and 'ba'd az' for after to place events in time.

  • Use 'ghabl az' before a noun or verb to mean 'before': 'ghabl az sham' (before dinner).
  • Use 'ba'd az' before a noun or verb to mean 'after': 'ba'd az kar' (after work).
  • If the following word starts with a vowel, the 'z' sound remains clear and distinct.
Ghabl az / Ba'd az + [Noun/Verb] + [Main Clause]

Overview

Mastering chronological sequencing is fundamental in any language, and Persian is no exception. This reference focuses on two indispensable temporal prepositions: ghabl az (قبل از - before) and ba'd az (بعد از - after). These expressions are essential for ordering events, describing routines, making plans, and navigating daily interactions in Persian.

Whether you are scheduling an appointment, recounting a story, or simply discussing when you will perform a task, ghabl az and ba'd az provide the necessary linguistic tools to situate actions and nouns accurately in time. For A2 learners, a solid understanding of these prepositions facilitates clear communication and helps avoid misunderstandings that can alter the meaning of an entire sentence. Their usage, while straightforward with nouns, requires specific structural adjustments when applied to verbal clauses, particularly regarding the choice of verb mood.

How This Grammar Works

Persian constructs its temporal "before" and "after" using a core principle: combining a directional word with the preposition az (از). The literal translation of ghabl az is closer to "preceding from" and ba'd az to "following from." This structure highlights a Persian linguistic tendency to express relationships relative to a starting point or boundary, with az marking that origin. ghabl (قبل) means 'prior' or 'preceding,' and ba'd (بعد) means 'subsequent' or 'following.' By joining these with az, you establish a temporal reference point for the noun or clause that follows.
Consider the role of az itself. az (از) is a versatile preposition often meaning 'from,' 'of,' 'than,' or 'by.' In ghabl az and ba'd az, it functions to link the concept of 'before' or 'after' to the specific entity or event that serves as the temporal marker. For instance, in ghabl az kelâs (قبل از کلاس - before class), az connects 'before' to 'class,' signifying the time period prior to the start of the class.
When these prepositions interact with verbs or full clauses, Persian employs a crucial connector: inke (اینکه). inke functions as a subordinating conjunction, often translatable as 'that' or 'the fact that.' Its role is to nominalize the subsequent verb clause, transforming it into a concept that ghabl az or ba'd az can then govern. Direct attachment of ghabl az or ba'd az to a conjugated verb is generally ungrammatical in formal Persian; inke acts as an essential syntactic bridge, preventing a grammatical clash between the prepositional phrase and the verbal action.
This mechanism allows for complex ideas like "before I go" or "after they finished" to be expressed coherently within the sentence structure.
The choice of verb mood and tense following inke is critical and reflects distinct temporal and aspectual nuances:
  • ghabl az inke (قبل از اینکه): This construction invariably requires the subjunctive mood for the main verb of the clause. The subjunctive in Persian expresses actions that are unrealized, potential, desired, or conditional. When you say ghabl az inke beravam (قبل از اینکه بروم - before I go), you are referring to an action (beravam - I go) that has not yet occurred but is anticipated or intended. The subjunctive be- prefix (بـ) is a clear indicator of this non-factual, prospective nature of the action before the main event.
  • ba'd az inke (بعد از اینکه): In contrast, ba'd az inke typically uses a past tense verb, most commonly the simple past. This choice is logical: ba'd az refers to something that happens after another event has been completed. Even when discussing future events, the past tense signifies that the action must be completed before the subsequent event can take place. For example, ba'd az inke kâram tamâm shod, be bimaristân raftam. (بعد از اینکه کارم تمام شد، به بیمارستان رفتم - After my work finished, I went to the hospital.) Here, tamâm shod (finished - simple past) indicates the completion of the work prior to going to the hospital. Similarly, for a future action, ba'd az inke kâram tamâm shod, be bimaristân miravam. (بعد از اینکه کارم تمام شد، به بیمارستان می‌روم - After my work is finished, I will go to the hospital.) The past tense tamâm shod still signifies the completion of the work, even though the going to the hospital (miravam) is in the future.
Unlike many European languages, Persian prepositions and their related structures do not exhibit gender or number agreement. ghabl az and ba'd az remain constant regardless of the gender or number of the noun or pronoun they modify, simplifying their application for learners.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming phrases with ghabl az and ba'd az follows a predictable structure, increasing in complexity when moving from simple nouns to full verbal clauses.
2
1. With Nouns:
3
This is the most straightforward application. You simply place ghabl az or ba'd az directly before the noun referring to the event or time period.
4
Rule: ghabl az (قبل از) / ba'd az (بعد از) + Noun
5
| Structure | Persian Example | Transliteration | Translation |
6
| :----------------- | :----------------------- | :----------------- | :------------------- |
7
| ghabl az + Noun | قبل از امتحان | ghabl az emtehân | before the exam |
8
| ba'd az + Noun | بعد از ناهار | ba'd az nâhâr | after lunch |
9
| ghabl az + Noun | قبل از سفر | ghabl az safar | before the trip |
10
| ba'd az + Noun | بعد از جلسه | ba'd az jalse | after the meeting |
11
Example sentences:
12
من قبل از صبحانه قهوه می‌نوشم. (man ghabl az sobhâne ghahve minusham. - I drink coffee before breakfast.)
13
او بعد از کار به خانه رفت. (u ba'd az kâr be xâne raft. - He/she went home after work.)
14
قبل از کلاس، لطفا درس را مرور کنید. (ghabl az kelâs, lotfan dars-râ morur konid. - Before class, please review the lesson.)
15
2. With Pronouns:
16
Similar to nouns, pronouns directly follow ghabl az or ba'd az. Persian uses objective pronouns in these constructions.
17
Rule: ghabl az (قبل از) / ba'd az (بعد از) + Personal Pronoun (objective form)
18
| Structure | Persian Example | Transliteration | Translation |
19
| :----------------- | :----------------------- | :----------------- | :------------------- |
20
| ghabl az + Pronoun | قبل از من | ghabl az man | before me |
21
| ba'd az + Pronoun | بعد از تو | ba'd az to | after you (informal) |
22
| ghabl az + Pronoun | قبل از او | ghabl az u | before him/her |
23
| ba'd az + Pronoun | بعد از آن‌ها | ba'd az ânhâ | after them |
24
Example sentences:
25
شما همیشه قبل از من بیدار می‌شوید. (shomâ hamishe ghabl az man bidâr mishavid. - You always wake up before me.)
26
مهمان‌ها بعد از ما رسیدند. (mehmânhâ ba'd az mâ residand. - The guests arrived after us.)
27
بعد از شما، نوبت من است. (ba'd az shomâ, nowbat-e man ast. - After you, it's my turn.) - This is a common polite expression in Ta'arof.
28
3. With Verbal Clauses (Actions):
29
This structure is more complex and requires the use of inke (اینکه) as a subordinating conjunction, followed by a specific verb mood/tense.
30
Rule for ghabl az: ghabl az inke (قبل از اینکه) + Subjunctive Verb
31
| Structure | Persian Example | Transliteration | Translation |
32
| :---------------------------- | :--------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :---------------------------- |
33
| ghabl az inke + Subjunctive | قبل از اینکه بروم | ghabl az inke beravam | before I go |
34
| ghabl az inke + Subjunctive | قبل از اینکه شروع کنید | ghabl az inke shoru' konid | before you start |
35
| ghabl az inke + Subjunctive | قبل از اینکه بخوابند | ghabl az inke bexâband | before they sleep |
36
Example sentences:
37
قبل از اینکه تصمیم بگیرید، خوب فکر کنید. (ghabl az inke tasmim begirid, xub fekr konid. - Before you decide, think carefully.)
38
آن‌ها قبل از اینکه به ایران بیایند، فارسی یاد گرفتند. (ânhâ ghabl az inke be Irân biâyand, Fârsi yâd gereftand. - Before they came to Iran, they learned Persian.)
39
همیشه قبل از اینکه صحبت کنم، دو بار فکر می‌کنم. (hamishe ghabl az inke sohbat konam, do bâr fekr mikonam. - I always think twice before I speak.)
40
Rule for ba'd az: ba'd az inke (بعد از اینکه) + Past Tense Verb (typically simple past)
41
| Structure | Persian Example | Transliteration | Translation |
42
| :-------------------------- | :------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :-------------------------- |
43
| ba'd az inke + Past Tense | بعد از اینکه رفتم | ba'd az inke raftam | after I went/have gone |
44
| ba'd az inke + Past Tense | بعد از اینکه خوردید | ba'd az inke xordid | after you ate/have eaten |
45
| ba'd az inke + Past Tense | بعد از اینکه تمام شد | ba'd az inke tamâm shod | after it finished/has finished |
46
Example sentences:
47
بعد از اینکه کتاب را خواندم، آن را به دوستم دادم. (ba'd az inke ketâb-râ xândam, ân-râ be dustam dâdam. - After I read the book, I gave it to my friend.)
48
بعد از اینکه غذا پختم، میوه‌ام را خوردم. (ba'd az inke ghazâ poxatam, mive-am-râ xordam. - After I cooked the meal, I ate my fruit.)
49
ما بعد از اینکه فیلم را دیدیم، به خواب رفتیم. (mâ ba'd az inke film-râ didim, be xâb raftim. - After we watched the film, we fell asleep.)
50
Colloquial Shortening: In very informal, spoken Persian, especially with common nouns, az can sometimes be dropped. This leads to ghabl-e (قبلِ) or ba'd-e (بعدِ) where the -e is the ezafe particle. This is purely a colloquialism and should generally be avoided in formal writing or when you are unsure.
51
ghabl-e dars (قبلِ درس) instead of ghabl az dars (قبل از درس - before class).
52
ba'd-e shâm (بعدِ شام) instead of ba'd az shâm (بعد از شام - after dinner).

When To Use It

ghabl az and ba'd az are ubiquitous in Persian communication, serving to establish clear temporal order in various contexts:
  • Daily Routines and Scheduling: These are indispensable for describing a sequence of everyday activities or planning your schedule.
  • قبل از کار ورزش می‌کنم. (ghabl az kâr varzesh mikonam. - I exercise before work.)
  • قرار است بعد از ظهر برویم خرید. (gharâr ast ba'd az zohr beravim xarid. - We are supposed to go shopping in the afternoon (lit. after noon).)
  • قبل از اینکه بخوابی، مسواک بزن. (ghabl az inke bexâbi, mesvâk bezan. - Before you sleep, brush your teeth.)
  • Narrating Past Events: When recounting a series of events, these prepositions clarify the sequence of actions.
  • بعد از اینکه فارغ‌التحصیل شدم، به خارج رفتم. (ba'd az inke fâreq-ot-tahsil shodam, be xârej raftam. - After I graduated, I went abroad.)
  • او قبل از اینکه به دانشگاه برود، خدمت سربازی را انجام داد. (u ghabl az inke be dâneshgâh beravad, xedmat-e sarbâzi-râ anjâm dâd. - Before he went to university, he did his military service.)
  • Giving Instructions or Advice: They are crucial for specifying conditions or necessary steps in a process.
  • قبل از پختن مرغ، آن را خوب بشویید. (ghabl az poxtan morgh, ân-râ xub beshuyid. - Before cooking the chicken, wash it well.)
  • بعد از اینکه دارو را مصرف کردید، استراحت کنید. (ba'd az inke dâru-râ masraf kardid, esterâhat konid. - After you take the medicine, rest.)
  • Formal vs. Informal Contexts: Persian distinguishes between formal and informal lexical choices for "before" and "after":
  • pish az (پیش از) and pas az (پس از): These are classical Persian equivalents of ghabl az and ba'd az. They are grammatically identical in function but are typically reserved for formal language, literary contexts, news broadcasts, official documents, or academic writing. Using them in casual conversation might sound overly formal or even archaic.
  • پیش از طلوع آفتاب، کاروان حرکت کرد. (pish az tolu'-e âftâb, kârevân harakat kard. - Before sunrise, the caravan moved.)
  • پس از بررسی‌های لازم، نتیجه اعلام خواهد شد. (pas az barresi-hâ-ye lâzem, natije e'lâm xâhad shod. - After the necessary investigations, the result will be announced.)
  • Colloquial Shortenings (ghabl-e, ba'd-e): As mentioned, dropping az is common in casual spoken Persian. This is usually restricted to specific, high-frequency nouns and should be approached with caution by learners.
  • Cultural Nuance (Ta'arof): The phrase ba'd az shomâ (بعد از شما - after you) is a cornerstone of Persian Ta'arof (تعارف), a system of politeness and deference. When someone invites you to go first, take something, or pass through a door, responding with ba'd az shomâ demonstrates respect and humility, insisting that the other person precedes you. It is a polite refusal of priority.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific challenges when integrating ghabl az and ba'd az into their Persian. Awareness of these pitfalls can significantly accelerate mastery.
  • Omitting az with Nouns/Pronouns: The most common error for beginners is to drop az (از) when connecting ghabl or ba'd to a noun or pronoun. Phrases like ghabl kelâs or ba'd man are ungrammatical. az is a mandatory component for these prepositional phrases.
  • Incorrect: قبل کلاس (ghabl kelâs) می‌آیم.
  • Correct: قبل از کلاس می‌آیم. (ghabl az kelâs miâyam. - I'm coming before class.)
  • Explanation: Without az, ghabl and ba'd function more like adverbs (e.g., 'previously', 'later'), but they cannot form a prepositional phrase with a direct object. az is the crucial link.
  • Omitting inke with Verbal Clauses: Another significant error is trying to attach ghabl az or ba'd az directly to a conjugated verb without inke (اینکه). For example, ghabl az beravam or ba'd az raftam.
  • Incorrect: قبل از بروم، باید تلفن کنم. (ghabl az beravam, bâyad telefon konam.)
  • Correct: قبل از اینکه بروم، باید تلفن کنم. (ghabl az inke beravam, bâyad telefon konam. - Before I go, I must call.)
  • Explanation: inke serves as the necessary bridge to nominalize the verbal clause, allowing the preceding prepositional phrase to modify it correctly. Persian syntax generally avoids prepositions directly governing full clauses.
  • Incorrect Verb Mood/Tense after inke: This is a subtle but critical mistake, indicating a lack of understanding of Persian aspect.
  • ghabl az inke + Indicative Present: Using miravam (می‌روم - I go, indicative) instead of beravam (بروم - I go, subjunctive) after ghabl az inke.
  • Incorrect: قبل از اینکه می‌روم، خداحافظی می‌کنم. (ghabl az inke miravam, xodâhâfezi mikonam.)
  • Correct: قبل از اینکه بروم، خداحافظی می‌کنم. (ghabl az inke beravam, xodâhâfezi mikonam. - Before I go, I say goodbye.)
  • Explanation: ghabl az inke refers to an anticipated or non-factual event. The indicative present describes an ongoing or habitual factual action, which contradicts the prospective nature implied by ghabl az inke. The subjunctive mood (be- prefix) is mandatory here.
  • ba'd az inke + Present Tense for Completed Action: Using a present tense verb when referring to an action that must be completed.
  • Incorrect: بعد از اینکه کارم تمام می‌شود، می‌روم. (ba'd az inke kâram tamâm mishavad, miravam.)
  • Correct: بعد از اینکه کارم تمام شد، می‌روم. (ba'd az inke kâram tamâm shod, miravam. - After my work is finished, I will go.)
  • Explanation: Even when the entire sentence describes future events, the clause following ba'd az inke implies a completed prerequisite action. The simple past (tamâm shod) signifies this completion. The indicative present (tamâm mishavad) suggests an ongoing or habitual action, which is semantically incongruous with the idea of 'after completion.'
  • Confusing ghabl az with tâ (تا - until/up to): While both relate to time, their functions are distinct.
  • ghabl az marks a point in time before another event. tâ indicates a duration or an endpoint up to which an action continues.
  • Example: قبل از ظهر می‌آیم. (ghabl az zohr miâyam. - I will come before noon.) vs. تا ظهر منتظر می‌مانم. (tâ zohr montazer mimânam. - I will wait until noon.)
  • Explanation: ghabl az denotes sequence; tâ denotes duration. Mistaking one for the other creates logical inaccuracies in sentence meaning.
  • Misusing pish az / pas az in Informal Contexts: Employing the formal pish az (پیش از) or pas az (پس از) in everyday conversation can sound overly stiff or even humorous to native speakers.
  • Avoid in casual speech: پس از صبحانه، ناهار می‌خورم. (pas az sobhâne, nâhâr mixoram.) - This sounds like a character from a classical play talking about their meal schedule.
  • Prefer: بعد از صبحانه، ناهار می‌خورم. (ba'd az sobhâne, nâhâr mixoram. - After breakfast, I'll eat lunch.)
  • Explanation: While grammatically correct, using formal vocabulary in informal settings is a clear indicator of a non-native speaker and disrupts the natural flow of conversation.

Real Conversations

Understanding how ghabl az and ba'd az are used in authentic Persian discourse, from casual chats to more formal exchanges, solidifies your grasp of their practical application.

1. Daily Planning & Sequencing:

- دوستم گفت بعد از اینکه کارش تمام شد، با من تماس می‌گیرد. (dustam goft ba'd az inke kâresh tamâm shod, bâ man tamâs migirad.)

- Translation: My friend said after his work is finished, he will call me.

- Observation: Even though the call is future, tamâm shod (finished - simple past) correctly shows completion of the work.

- قبل از کلاس می‌توانی به کتابخانه بیایی؟ (ghabl az kelâs mitavâni be ketâbxâne biâyi?)

- Translation: Can you come to the library before class?

- Observation: Direct and common usage with a noun.

2. Instructions & Advice:

- قبل از اینکه غذا بخوری، دست‌هایت را بشور. (ghabl az inke ghazâ bexori, dasthâyat râ beshur.)

- Translation: Before you eat, wash your hands.

- Observation: Imperative sentence using subjunctive bexori (you eat) for the anticipated action.

- بعد از اینکه ایمیل را فرستادی، به من خبر بده. (ba'd az inke imeil râ ferestâdi, be man xabar bede.)

- Translation: After you send the email, let me know.

- Observation: ferestâdi (you sent - simple past) implies the completion of sending the email before giving notification.

3. Social Interactions & Ta'arof:

- (At a doorway)

- Person A: بفرمایید. (befarmâid. - Please [go first].)

- Person B: بعد از شما. (ba'd az shomâ. - After you.)

- Observation: A standard polite exchange, where Person B defers to Person A. This is a common phrase to demonstrate Ta'arof (تعارف).

4. Colloquial Usage (informal):

- قبلِ درس یه‌کم قهوه بخوریم؟ (ghabl-e dars ye-kam ghahve bexurim?)

- Translation: Should we drink some coffee before class?

- Observation: The az is dropped, a common feature of very casual, spoken Persian.

- بعدِ ناهار میام سراغت. (ba'd-e nâhâr miâm sorâghet.)

- Translation: I'll come for you (to find you) after lunch.

- Observation: Again, az is dropped, and miâm is a colloquial pronunciation of miâyam (I come).

These examples illustrate that while the formal rules are consistent, actual usage incorporates nuances of politeness and informality, reflecting the dynamic nature of everyday Persian.

Quick FAQ

  • Is inke (اینکه) always mandatory when ghabl az or ba'd az refer to a verb?
  • Yes, absolutely. inke acts as a crucial subordinating conjunction, nominalizing the clause and enabling ghabl az or ba'd az to modify the entire verbal action. Omitting it results in ungrammatical sentences. Think of it as the necessary bridge between the prepositional phrase and the action it refers to.
  • Can ba'd az inke (بعد از اینکه) refer to future events?
  • Yes, it can. While the verb within the ba'd az inke clause will typically be in a past tense (usually simple past), this past tense indicates that the action must be completed before the subsequent event occurs, even if both actions are in the future. For example: بعد از اینکه رسیدم، به شما زنگ می‌زنم. (ba'd az inke residam, be shomâ zang mizanam. - After I arrive [lit. 'after I arrived'], I will call you.) The past tense residam (residan - to arrive) highlights the completion aspect of the arrival.
  • What is the difference between ghabl az (قبل از) and pish az (پیش از)?
  • Grammatically, they are interchangeable and mean the same thing: "before." The distinction lies in their register. ghabl az is the common, everyday term used in all informal and semi-formal contexts. pish az is a more formal, classical Persian word, often found in literature, official speeches, news reports, and academic writing. Using pish az in casual conversation can sound overly formal or even out of place.
  • Can ghabl (قبل) or ba'd (بعد) be used without az?
  • Yes, but their function changes. Without az, ghabl and ba'd typically function as adverbs meaning "beforehand"/"previously" or "later"/"afterward," respectively. They do not directly introduce a noun or clause in the same way ghabl az and ba'd az do.
  • Example (adverbial ghabl): قبل آمدند. (ghabl âmadand. - They came beforehand.)
  • Example (adverbial ba'd): بعد رفتیم. (ba'd raftim. - We went later.)
  • To connect to a specific noun or pronoun, or to a verbal clause, az or inke is required.
  • Are there other ways to express "before" or "after"?
  • Yes, but these are generally adverbial. qabl-an (قبلاً) means "previously" or "formerly" (e.g., قبلاً اینجا بودم. - qabl-an injâ budam. - I was here previously.) ba'd-an (بعداً) means "later" or "afterward" (e.g., بعداً صحبت می‌کنیم. - ba'd-an sohbat mikonim. - We will talk later.) These are single adverbs and do not take an object like the prepositional phrases discussed.
  • Why do some native speakers drop az in casual speech?
  • This is a common feature of rapid, informal spoken Persian, particularly with high-frequency phrases like ghabl-e zohr (قبلِ ظهر - before noon) or ba'd-e shâm (بعدِ شام - after dinner). The -e sound often appears as an ezafe particle, creating a smoother, more colloquial flow. While understandable, learners should aim for the full ghabl az / ba'd az construction in formal settings and until they are confident in replicating native speech patterns naturally.

Basic Formation Structure

Preposition Followed By Example Meaning
ghabl az
Noun
ghabl az sham
Before dinner
ghabl az
Infinitive
ghabl az raftan
Before leaving
ba'd az
Noun
ba'd az kar
After work
ba'd az
Infinitive
ba'd az didan
After seeing
pish az
Noun
pish az jalse
Before meeting (formal)
pas az
Noun
pas az zohr
After noon (formal)

Meanings

These are compound prepositions used to establish temporal sequence. They act as the anchor for when an action occurs relative to another event.

1

Temporal Sequence

Indicating the order of two events.

“ba'd az baran, hava khob shod.”

“ghabl az khab, chayi mikhordam.”

2

Relative Time

Positioning an event relative to a specific time point.

“ghabl az sa'at-e haft.”

“ba'd az zohr.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Time Prepositions: Before & After (ghabl az / ba'd az)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Ghabl az + Noun
ghabl az sham
Affirmative
Ba'd az + Noun
ba'd az sham
Negative (Verb)
Ghabl az + V, Neg-Verb
ghabl az raftan, nakhoordam
Question
Aya + Ba'd az + Noun + Verb?
aya ba'd az kar miri?
Formal
Pish az + Noun
pish az jalse
Formal
Pas az + Noun
pas az jalse

Formality Spectrum

Formal
pish az jalse

pish az jalse (Professional)

Neutral
ghabl az jalse

ghabl az jalse (Professional)

Informal
ghabl-e jalse

ghabl-e jalse (Professional)

Slang
ghabl-e jalse

ghabl-e jalse (Professional)

Time Sequence Map

Time

Before

  • ghabl az before
  • pish az before (formal)

After

  • ba'd az after
  • pas az after (formal)
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

ghabl az sham.

Before dinner.

2

ba'd az kar.

After work.

3

ghabl az emruz.

Before today.

4

ba'd az zohr.

After noon.

1

ghabl az raftan, khoda-hafezi kard.

Before leaving, he said goodbye.

2

ba'd az kelas, mirim kafi-shap.

After class, we go to the cafe.

3

ghabl az inke biyay, zang bezan.

Before you come, call.

4

ba'd az didan-e film, khabidam.

After watching the movie, I slept.

1

pish az inke baran bebarad, be khane residim.

Before it rained, we arrived home.

2

pas az chand mah, o be tehran baz-gasht.

After several months, he returned to Tehran.

3

ghabl az inke tasmim begiri, fekr kon.

Before you decide, think.

4

ba'd az anke kar-am tamum shod, raftam.

After my work finished, I left.

1

ghabl az har gooneh eghdam, bayad mashverat konid.

Before any action, you must consult.

2

ba'd az etmam-e jalse, natijeh ra elam mikonim.

After the meeting ends, we will announce the result.

3

pish az moghe-e moayyan, bayad hazer bashid.

Before the appointed time, you must be present.

4

pas az gozarand-e in doreh, shoma amadeh hastid.

After passing this course, you are ready.

1

ghabl az anke khorshid tolue konad, bidar shodam.

Before the sun rose, I woke up.

2

ba'd az inke tamami-ye marhale-ha ra tay kardim, be natijeh residim.

After we passed all stages, we reached the result.

3

pish az har chiz, bayad be in soal pasokh dad.

Before anything, one must answer this question.

4

pas az sal-ha entezar, o be arezuyash resid.

After years of waiting, he reached his dream.

1

ghabl az inke dastan-e ma be payan beresad, hame chiz avaz shod.

Before our story reached its end, everything changed.

2

ba'd az inke bar-ha tajrobe kardim, be in ravesh-e jadid dast yaftim.

After we experimented many times, we found this new method.

3

pish az inke negah-e ensan be jahan taghyir konad, bayad danesh-e khod ra afzayesh dahad.

Before human perspective on the world changes, one must increase their knowledge.

4

pas az inke in mabhath ra barresi kardim, be natijeh-ye ghati residim.

After we examined this topic, we reached a definitive conclusion.

Easily Confused

Persian Time Prepositions: Before & After (ghabl az / ba'd az) vs ghabl az vs pish az

Learners think they are different in meaning.

Persian Time Prepositions: Before & After (ghabl az / ba'd az) vs ba'd az vs pas az

Learners think they are different in meaning.

Persian Time Prepositions: Before & After (ghabl az / ba'd az) vs ghabl az + verb vs ghabl az inke + clause

Learners mix up the structure.

Common Mistakes

✗

ghabl sham

✓

ghabl az sham

Missing the 'az' particle.
✗

ba'd sham

✓

ba'd az sham

Missing the 'az' particle.
✗

ghabl-am az

✓

ghabl az-am

Incorrect pronoun placement.
✗

az ghabl

✓

ghabl az

Word order inversion.
✗

ghabl az raftam

✓

ghabl az raftan

Using past tense instead of infinitive.
✗

ba'd az miram

✓

ba'd az raftan

Using present tense instead of infinitive.
✗

ghabl az-ash raftam

✓

ghabl az o raftam

Incorrect pronoun usage.
✗

pish az inke raftam

✓

pish az inke beravam

Subjunctive mood error.
✗

pas az inke raftan

✓

pas az inke raftand

Verb conjugation error.
✗

ghabl az-e inke

✓

ghabl az inke

Unnecessary 'e' (ezafe).
✗

pish-tar az inke raftam

✓

pish-tar az inke rafte budam

Tense sequence error.
✗

pas az inke raft

✓

pas az inke rafte bud

Aspect error.
✗

ghabl az-e anke

✓

ghabl az anke

Ezafe error.

Sentence Patterns

ghabl az ___, ___.

ba'd az ___, ___.

pish az inke ___, ___.

pas az inke ___, ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

ghabl-e kar mibinamet.

Job Interview common

pish az inke dar in sherkat kar konam...

Travel common

ghabl az parvaz...

Food Delivery occasional

ba'd az daryaft-e ghaza...

Social Media very common

ghabl az inke in aks ra bebinid...

Academic Writing common

pas az barresi-ye natijeh...

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Keep it simple

Don't worry about 'pish az' or 'pas az' until you are B1. Stick to 'ghabl az' and 'ba'd az'.
⚠️

Don't conjugate

These are fixed phrases. Never try to add verb endings to 'ghabl' or 'ba'd'.
🎯

Use with verbs

You can use the infinitive form of any verb after these prepositions to create a time clause.
💬

Dialect variation

In casual speech, you will often hear 'ghabl-e' instead of 'ghabl az'. This is perfectly acceptable.

Smart Tips

Swap 'ghabl az' for 'pish az'.

ghabl az jalse → pish az jalse

Use 'ghabl-e' instead of 'ghabl az'.

ghabl az sham → ghabl-e sham

Use 'ghabl az inke' + clause.

ghabl az raftan-e o → ghabl az inke o beravad

Use 'ghabl az' with specific time markers.

ghabl az haft → ghabl az sa'at-e haft

Pronunciation

ghabl az-e...

Linking

The 'z' in 'az' often links to the next word if it starts with a vowel.

ghabl az SHAM

Stress

Stress usually falls on the noun following the preposition.

Rising

ba'd az kelas? ↑

Questioning timing.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ghabl is like 'Gulp' (before you eat). Ba'd is like 'Bad' (after you eat something bad).

Visual Association

Imagine a clock. 'Ghabl' is the hand moving to the left (past/before). 'Ba'd' is the hand moving to the right (future/after).

Rhyme

Ghabl az sham, chayi mikhordam. Ba'd az sham, ketab mikhonam.

Story

Ali woke up. Ghabl az breakfast, he washed his face. Ba'd az breakfast, he went to work. Ghabl az work, he checked his email. Ba'd az work, he went home.

Word Web

ghablba'dazpishpaszamanetasmim

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using 'ghabl az' and 'ba'd az'.

Cultural Notes

In Tehrani dialect, 'az' is often shortened or elided in very fast speech.

Writers prefer 'pish az' and 'pas az' to maintain a higher register.

Regional dialects might use different particles, but 'ghabl az' is universally understood.

These are compound prepositions derived from classical Persian roots.

Conversation Starters

“

ghabl az kar chi kar mikoni?

“

ba'd az daneshgah koja rafti?

“

pish az inke biyay, chizi khordi?

“

pas az inke in doreh tamum shod, barname-ye to chiye?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine.
Write about your last vacation.
Reflect on a major life decision.
Discuss the impact of technology on your daily life.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.

___ sham, chayi mikhoram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az
Before dinner is 'ghabl az'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az raftan
Requires 'az' and infinitive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ba'd sham miram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ba'd az sham miram
Needs 'az'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az sham miram khab
Correct word order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

After work, I go home.

Answer starts with: ba'...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ba'd az kar miram khane
Correct translation.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'ghabl az' and 'raftan'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: both 1 and 3
Both are grammatically correct.
Sort by formality. Grammar Sorting

Which is most formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pish az
Pish az is formal.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: before / after
Correct meanings.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.

___ sham, chayi mikhoram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az
Before dinner is 'ghabl az'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az raftan
Requires 'az' and infinitive.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ba'd sham miram.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ba'd az sham miram
Needs 'az'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

sham / ghabl az / miram / khab

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghabl az sham miram khab
Correct word order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

After work, I go home.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ba'd az kar miram khane
Correct translation.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'ghabl az' and 'raftan'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: both 1 and 3
Both are grammatically correct.
Sort by formality. Grammar Sorting

Which is most formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pish az
Pish az is formal.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match: ghabl az / ba'd az

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: before / after
Correct meanings.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Select the correct connector. Fill in the Blank

قبل ________ اینکه بخوابم، کتاب می‌خوانم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: از
Translate the phrase to Persian. Translation

After class

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بعد از کلاس
Reorder the words to form: 'After I ate dinner' Sentence Reorder

Reorder the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بعد از اینکه شام خوردم
Correct the grammar mistake. Error Correction

بعد از اینکه می‌رسم به تو زنگ می‌زنم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بعد از اینکه رسیدم به تو زنگ می‌زنم.
Match the Persian phrase to its English translation. Match Pairs

Match the items:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-B, 2-A
Choose the correct polite expression. Multiple Choice

How do you politely say 'After you'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بعد از شما
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

لطفا ________ از ساعت ۸ بیا. (Please come before 8 o'clock).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: قبل
Select the correct translation. Translation

Before I buy the ticket

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: قبل از اینکه بلیت بخرم
Reorder the words to mean: 'I arrived before you.' Sentence Reorder

Reorder the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من قبل از تو رسیدم
Which sentence represents proper colloquial pronunciation? Multiple Choice

In fast street speech, how is 'ghabl az to' often pronounced?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ghable to

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, 'ghabl' must be followed by 'az' to function as a preposition.

Yes, they are synonyms, but 'pish az' is more formal.

Yes, use the infinitive form of the verb: 'ghabl az raftan'.

This is a colloquial contraction of 'ghabl az'.

Negate the main verb, not the prepositional phrase.

Yes, especially 'pish az' and 'pas az'.

The 'z' sound is pronounced clearly.

Yes: 'ghabl az sa'at-e haft'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

antes de / después de

Spanish requires 'de' while Persian uses 'az'.

French moderate

avant de / après

French 'après' does not require a preposition like 'az'.

German moderate

vor / nach

German uses simple prepositions, not compound ones.

Japanese moderate

mae / ato

Japanese is a postpositional language.

Arabic high

qabla / ba'da

Arabic does not require the 'az' particle.

Chinese moderate

yǐqián / yǐhòu

Chinese markers are post-nominal.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Expressing Purpose with 'barā-ye' (for)
Next
Persian Habits: Always, Usually, Never (hamisheh, ma'mūlan)

Related Grammar Rules

B1

Persian Prepositions: To vs. For (be vs. barāye)

Overview Persian prepositions are fundamental to constructing coherent sentences, establishing relationships between wor...
A1

Persian Prepositions: In, On, Under (dar, ru-ye, zir-e)

Overview Mastering prepositions is fundamental to describing spatial relationships in any language. In Persian, three co...
A1

The Preposition 'with' (bā) - Connecting People & Things

Overview The Persian preposition `bā` (با) is one of the most fundamental and versatile words you will learn. At its co...
A1

Persian Direction Prepositions: To and From (be, az)

Overview Mastering the prepositions of direction is fundamental for any Persian learner, especially at the A1 level. The...
A1

The Persian 'For': Using barā-ye (برای)

Overview In Persian, the preposition `barā-ye` (برای) is a fundamental component for expressing the concept of “for.” It...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!