We already know the te-form can express action sequence -- "do A, then do B." But the te-form alone only states the order; it doesn't guarantee nothing else happened in between. If you want to emphasize that B happens right after A is done, use てから.
Basic Pattern
Verb te-form + から + Verb = After doing A, (immediately) do B
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起きてから庭へ行きました。 | After getting up, I went to the yard right away. |
| 授業が終わってから映画を見に行きます。 | After class ends, I'll go see a movie. |
| 日本語を勉強してから専門学校で技術を習います。 | After studying Japanese, I'll learn skills at a vocational school. |
| 店員に聞いてから買います。 | I ask the clerk first, then buy. |
| 果物を食べてから買うこともできます。 | You can also taste the fruit first and then buy it. |
Te-form vs てから
Both express sequence. The difference:
| Te-form | てから | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A then B | Right after A, do B |
| Gap between actions | Possibly other things in between | Basically nothing in between |
| Emphasis | Loose ordering | Tight connection |
Comparison:
テレビを見て寝ました。 = I watched TV (and at some point later) went to bed. テレビを見てから寝ました。 = After watching TV, I went straight to bed.
The first just says TV came before sleep -- you might have checked your phone or had a snack in between. The second emphasizes going directly from TV to bed.
Tense with てから
てから itself doesn't change. Tense is determined by the final verb:
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present/future | 手を洗ってから食べます。 | I'll eat after washing my hands. |
| Past | 手を洗ってから食べました。 | I ate after washing my hands. |
Common Situations
てから is especially natural for:
- Steps/procedures: 袋に入れてから買います。(Put it in a bag, then buy it.)
- Prerequisites: 先生に聞いてから決めます。(Ask the teacher, then decide.)
- Plans: 卒業してから日本へ行きます。(Go to Japan after graduating.)
Wrap-Up
- てから = after doing A, immediately do B
- Stronger than the plain te-form in emphasizing "right after"
- Tense is decided by the final verb
- Common for steps, prerequisites, and plans
Practice
Q1. What does "ご飯を食べてからテレビを見ます" mean?
Answer
After eating, I'll (immediately) watch TV.
てから emphasizes doing one thing right after the other.
Q2. What's the difference between "食べて寝ました" and "食べてから寝ました"?
Answer
- 食べて寝ました: I ate and (eventually) went to bed. Other things may have happened in between.
- 食べてから寝ました: I ate and went straight to bed. Emphasizes immediacy.
Q3. How would you say "I'll buy it after asking the teacher" using てから?
Answer
先生に聞いてから買います。
聞く (ask) → 聞いて + から + 買います.