AFTER Vs AFTERWARDS

AFTER Vs AFTERWARDS
:
AFTER Vs AFTERWARDS
AFTER introduces a subordinate clause. It makes no sense by itself:

If you say to somebody:

After we left the cinema

that person is still waiting for you to finish the sentence. And to finish the sentence you need to

put an independent clause. So you will perhaps say:

After we left the cinema WE WENT FOR A MEAL

That's the sentence complete.





AFTERWARDS is an isolated adverb and doesn't play a key part in grammar structure.

AFTERWARDS refers to an already spoken or understood action:

We left the cinema. AFTERWARDS we went for a meal

AFTERWARDS has the same meaning as LATER or SUBSEQUENTLY or THEN