Afterwards for Dummies

Afterwards is a word that we often use to talk about something that happens or takes place following a previous event or action. It's like when you go to a birthday party and have a great time playing games and eating cake, and then afterwards, you start feeling tired and ready to go home.

You see, afterwards is a way for us to express what happens next or in the time that comes after something else. It helps us understand the progression of events and how they unfold over time. It's kind of like a marker or a signal that points to what happens after something else has already happened.

Let me give you another example to make it even clearer. Imagine you are reading a storybook where a little girl named Lucy goes to the park. She swings on the swings, slides down the slide, and then afterwards, she meets her friends at the sandbox. Do you see how afterwards tells us what happened next? It tells us that Lucy's meeting with her friends at the sandbox happened after she played on the swings and the slide.

Now, it's important to remember that there can be more than one definition or way to use the word afterwards. Sometimes, it can also mean in the future or down the line, like when you say, "I finished my homework, and afterwards, I will have some free time to play."

In that case, afterwards is telling us that something will happen at a later time, after a certain task or event has been completed. It helps us understand the sequence of actions or plans we might have. It's like a way of saying, "First I'll do my homework, and then later on, I'll have some time to relax and play."

So, when you come across the word afterwards in a text or hear someone use it in a conversation, think of it as a way to understand what happens next or what will happen in the future. It's like a little signpost that guides us through the flow of events, making sure we don't get lost in the journey of time.