How do you use "before / after / during" in a sentence?

Wash your hands before eating. After the film, we went home. I fell asleep during the lecture. Call me after you arrive.

before / after / during

Q: What does "before / after / during" mean?

Time relationships between events 'Before' = earlier than. 'After' = later than. 'During' = throughout or within a period. 'Before' and 'after' can be prepositions or conjunctions. 'During' is only a preposition (followed by noun).

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Time relationships between events

事件之间的时间关系

Relaciones temporales entre eventos

出来事間の時間関係

사건 간의 시간 관계

'Before' = earlier than. 'After' = later than. 'During' = throughout or within a period. 'Before' and 'after' can be prepositions or conjunctions. 'During' is only a preposition (followed by noun).

'Before' = 之前。'After' = 之后。'During' = 在某个时期内或贯穿。'Before'和'after'可以是介词或连词。'During'只是介词（后跟名词）。

'Before' = antes de. 'After' = después de. 'During' = durante o a lo largo de un período. 'Before' y 'after' pueden ser preposiciones o conjunciones. 'During' es solo preposición (seguido de sustantivo).

「Before」= 〜の前。「After」= 〜の後。「During」= 期間中または〜を通じて。「Before」と「after」は前置詞または接続詞になれます。「During」は前置詞のみです（名詞が続く）。

'Before' = ~보다 이전에. 'After' = ~보다 이후에. 'During' = 기간 내내 또는 기간 중에. 'Before'와 'after'는 전치사 또는 접속사로 쓸 수 있습니다. 'During'은 전치사로만 쓰입니다 (명사가 뒤따름).

Examples

Wash your hands before eating.
吃饭前洗手。
Lávate las manos antes de comer.
食べる前に手を洗いなさい。
식사 전에 손을 씻으세요.
After the film, we went home.
电影结束后，我们回家了。
Después de la película, fuimos a casa.
映画の後、家に帰りました。
영화가 끝난 후 집에 갔어요.
I fell asleep during the lecture.
讲座期间我睡着了。
Me quedé dormido durante la conferencia.
講義中に眠ってしまいました。
강의 중에 잠이 들었어요.
Call me after you arrive.
到了之后给我打电话。
Llámame después de que llegues.
着いたら電話してください。
도착하면 전화해 주세요.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: temporal

✓ Do Say

I'll call you before I leave.
我走之前会给你打电话。
Te llamaré antes de irme.
出る前に電話します。
떠나기 전에 전화할게요.
What did you do during the break?
休息时间你做了什么？
¿Qué hiciste durante el descanso?
休憩中に何をしましたか？
쉬는 시간에 뭐 했어요?
After dinner, let's watch a film.
晚饭后，我们看电影吧。
Después de la cena, veamos una película.
夕食後、映画を見ましょう。
저녁 식사 후에 영화를 봅시다.
While I was sleeping...
我睡觉的时候……
Mientras dormía...
寝ている間に…
내가 자고 있는 동안...
I woke up during the night.
我半夜醒了。
Me desperté durante la noche.
夜中に目が覚めました。
나는 밤중에 깼다.

✗ Don't Say

During I was sleeping... (use 'while')
During I was sleeping...（用'while'）
During I was sleeping... (se usa 'while')
During I was sleeping...（「while」を使う）
During I was sleeping...（'while'을 사용）
I woke up during the night. ✓ (correct with noun)
I woke up during the night. ✓（名词正确）
I woke up during the night. ✓ (correcto con sustantivo)
I woke up during the night. ✓（名詞で正しい）
I woke up during the night. ✓（명사와 함께 사용하면 올바름）

Origin & History

Temporal prepositions/conjunctions

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal