After for Dummies

After is a word that we use a lot in our everyday conversations, and it's a word that can have a few different meanings depending on the context. But don't worry, I'll break it down for you and make sure you understand it!

So, let's start with the most common and basic meaning of after. When we say "after," we usually mean something that happens later or following something else. It's like when you finish eating dinner, and then you have dessert after you're done with your main meal. So, in this case, "after" is used to show that the dessert comes after the main meal.

But wait, there's more! After can also mean something that comes behind or in back of something else. Imagine you're standing in a line, and there's a person in front of you. That person is standing before you, and you're standing after them. Similarly, if you have a row of pictures on your wall, and one is hanging in the middle, you can say it's hanging in the middle because it has two pictures on either side, before and after it.

Now, let's think about time again. When we talk about days, we often use the word "after" to describe something happening on a specific day or date. For example, your birthday might be after Christmas or after Halloween. It means that your birthday comes at some point later in the year, after those holidays have already happened.

What about when someone says, "I'll see you after school"? Well, in this case, "after" means that they will meet you following the end of school. So, if you finish school at 3 o'clock, they will see you after that time.

Another way we can think of "after" is to see it as a sequence. It helps us put things or events in order. If I say, "You can have dessert after you finish your homework," it means that you need to complete your homework before you can have dessert. It shows that there is a specific order in which things need to be done.

So, to sum it all up, "after" means something happening later or following something else. It can also mean something that comes behind or in back of something. It helps us understand the order in which events or things occur. After is a versatile word that we use every day without even realizing it, but now you have a clearer understanding of its various meanings.