Après que + indicative (L'Indicatif) = After + conjugated verb in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2023-05-16

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 definitely happened and therefore requires the Mode indicatif. The Mode subjonctif, on the other hand, is the mood of doubt and uncertainty.

Using "après que" + Mode indicatif in French

(1)

When the main verb is in Le Passé Composé (Indicatif), après que is followed by Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) (after I did) or Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) (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; Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) 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'ai été 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 Le Présent (Indicatif), après que is followed by Le Présent (Indicatif) to express a habit (after they come, they [usually] do that) or by Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) when the action happens BEFORE the moment it is being reported (He goes after I've done it).

Je fais le lit après que tu te lèves.I make the bed after you get up.

-> The present tense in the après que clause makes it clear that this is a general statement.

Je fais le lit après que tu t'es levé.I'm making the bed after you've got [US: gotten] up.

-> This is a one time thing.

For other cases, see Quand/lorsque/après que/une fois que + future perfect (Le Futur Antérieur) = When/after I've done something in the future (Sequence of Tenses in French)

Note that many French people mistakenly use 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 + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = Before I do in French

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Examples and resources

Je fais le lit après que tu te lèves.I make the bed after you get up.

Je fais le lit après que tu t'es levé.I'm making the bed after you've got [US: gotten] up.

Après que j'ai vu ce film, j'ai été bouleversé.After I saw that film, I was overwhelmed.

Après que vous avez visité la ville, vous êtes allés boire un verre.After you visited the city, you went and had a drink.

Nous avons rattrapé notre travail après que nous avons été absents.We caught up on our work after we were absent.

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.

Tout le monde part après qu'elle sonne la cloche.Everyone leaves after she rings the bell.

Après qu’ils sont arrivés, ils vont saluer ma mère.After they've arrived, they go and say hello to my mother.