から (2)

Conjunction (Basic ㊦ 177)

After/since a point in time at which something takes place.

Equivalent: After; having done something; since (time)

雪子は晩ご飯を食べてから映画に行った・行きました。: After eating her supper, Yukiko went to a movie.
私は友達に電話してからうちを出た。: I left home after making a call to my friend.
ジョーンズさんはいつもシャワーを浴びてから寝ます。: Mr. Jones always goes to bed after taking a shower.
私達がこの家を買ってからもう十年になる。: It's already been ten years since we bought this house.
二年前に交通事故を起こしてから、ミラーさんは車に乗らないようにしています。: Since he caused a traffic accident two years ago, Mr. Miller has been trying not to drive a car.

Formation

Vてから	話してから	After talking
	食べてから	After eating

Notes

1. Verbてから Sentence means 'Sentence after doing something' or 'Sentence since ~ did something'. The usage of から2 is an extended use of から1.

2. てから is not to be confused with たから in which から is used as a conjunction of cause/reason.

(⇨ から3)

a. ジョギングをしてからシャワーを浴びた。
After jogging, I took a shower.

b. ジョギングをしたからシャワーを浴びた。
Because I jogged, I took a shower.

【Related Expression】

から in Verbてから can be omitted if the main verb does not indicate a high degree of volitional control on the part of the speaker as in the cases of a strong suggestion, determination or a command. Thus, in Key Sentence and Examples (a), (b) and (c) から can drop, but in Example (d), [1a] and [2a] it cannot.

[1]

a. 勉強が終わってからテニスをしましょう。
Let's play tennis after we've finished studying.

b. *勉強が終わって，テニスをしましょう。
*We've finished studying, and let's play tennis.

[2]

a. 勉強が終わってから遊びなさい。
Play after you've finished studying.

b. *勉強が終わって遊びなさい。
*You've finished studying, and play.

The difference between てから and て is that the former focuses more on chronological order and volitional planning than the latter does.