JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 7

～てから

After doing one thing, then another

You’ll be able to make clear that one action follows only after another is complete.

Read it first

宿題しゅくだいをしてから、テレビを見みます。

shukudai o shite kara, terebi o mimasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

I watch TV after doing my homework.

Why it means that

Make the order “after A, B” explicit

Use ～てから when the second action happens after the first action is completed.

Example

手てを洗あらってから、ご飯はんを食たべます。

te o aratte kara, gohan o tabemasu.

I eat after washing my hands.

How it is built

Put the first action in the て-form, add から, and then state what happens next.

Verb-て+から+Second clause

Examples

朝あさご飯はんを食たべてから、学校がっこうに行いきます。

asagohan o tabete kara, gakkou ni ikimasu.

I go to school after eating breakfast.

仕事しごとが終おわってから、買かい物ものに行いきます。

shigoto ga owatte kara, kaimono ni ikimasu.

I go shopping after work finishes.

日本にほんに来きてから、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしました。

nihon ni kite kara, nihongo o benkyou shimashita.

I studied Japanese after coming to Japan.

Compare

Plain て just lists actions in order. てから insists the first one finishes before the second begins.

～てから, only after
宿題しゅくだいをしてから、テレビを見みます。
shukudai o shite kara, terebi o mimasu.
I watch TV after doing my homework.
The homework is definitely done first.
～て, and then
宿題しゅくだいをして、テレビを見みます。
shukudai o shite, terebi o mimasu.
I do my homework and watch TV.
The order is given, but nothing insists on completion.

Examples

朝あさ起きおきてから、窓まどを開けあけます。

asa okite kara, mado o akemasu.

I open the window after I wake up in the morning.

顔かおを洗あらってから、服ふくを着きます。

kao o aratte kara, fuku o kimasu.

I get dressed after washing my face.

新聞しんぶんを買かってから、会社かいしゃに行きいきます。

shinbun o katte kara, kaisha ni ikimasu.

I go to work after buying a newspaper.

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