Using "après être + past participle" when the main clause is in passé simple

Question

I thought it was interesting that it can apparently be correct to blend passé composé and passé simple in the same sentence, according to this supposedly correct Kwiz answer: "Après s'être levé, William alla prendre son douche." Perhaps that is something that should be mentioned/clarified in the pertinent lesson?

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Tricia,
In the sentence "Après s'être levé, William alla prendre son douche.", there is no Passé Composé: while you correctly pointed out the main clause is conjugated in Le Passé Simple, "après" is followed by L'Infinitif Passé (not Le Passé Composé).
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Chris Wirt · Answer

Using two different tenses in one sentence isn't something rare and happens quite often -- in English as well as in French.

Alan Graham · Answer

Using the passé composé and passé simple in the same sentence is very rare, Chris. But I wouldn't say that a past infinitive is the passé composé.