It is worth noting that après que (after...) is followed by tenses in the Mode indicatif and NOT in Mode subjonctif!
The reason is very simple: après que introduces an action that happened for certain and therefore requires the Mode indicatif. The Mode subjonctif, on the other hand, is the mood of doubt and uncertainty.
(1)
When the
main verb is in
Passé composé,
après que is followed by
Passé composé (
after I did) or
Plus-que-parfait (
after I had done) because it expresses a fact that happened BEFORE the moment it is being reported. The
choice between the two tenses depends on
how far apart the two actions are;
Plus-que-parfait marks a longer gap.
Après que vous avez visité la ville, vous êtes allés boire un verre.
After you visited the city, you went and had a drink.
Après que j'ai vu ce film, j'étais bouleversé.
After I saw that film, I was overwhelmed.
Il a laissé sa voiture au garage après qu'elle était allée à la banque.
He dropped her car off at the garage after she had gone to the bank.
(2)
When the
main verb is in
Présent indicatif, après que is followed by
Présent indicatif to express
a habit (
after they come, they [usually] do that)
or by
Passé composé when the
action happens BEFORE the moment it is being reported (
He goes after I've done it./He's going after I did it.).
Après qu’ils sont arrivés, ils vont saluer ma mère.
After they've arrived, they go and say hello to my mother.
Tout le monde part après qu'elle sonne la cloche.
Everyone leaves after she rings the bell.
Je me lave après que tu te lèves.
I wash after you get up.
For other cases, see Quand, lorsque, après que, une fois que + Le Futur Antérieur = 'when, after I've done in the future
Note that many French people make the mistake of using Le Subjonctif instead of L'Indicatif after après que!
Note that avant que (i.e. before...) IS followed by Le Subjonctif because of the uncertainty of this action.
See Avant que + ne explétif + Le Subjonctif = Before I do
Après qu’ils sont arrivés, ils vont saluer ma mère.
After they've arrived, they go and say hello to my mother.
Après que j'ai vu ce film, j'étais bouleversé.
After I saw that film, I was overwhelmed.
Tout le monde part après qu'elle sonne la cloche.
Everyone leaves after she rings the bell.
Après que vous avez visité la ville, vous êtes allés boire un verre.
After you visited the city, you went and had a drink.
Je me lave après que tu te lèves.
I wash after you get up.
Il a laissé sa voiture au garage après qu'elle était allée à la banque.
He dropped her car off at the garage after she had gone to the bank.
Nous avons rattrapé notre travail après que nous avons été absents.
We caught up on our work after we were absent.
