Understanding 'Après': A Comprehensive Guide

The Versatile French Preposition: 'Après' Explained

The French language, much like any other, boasts words that carry a multitude of meanings and applications. Among these, the preposition 'après' stands out for its remarkable versatility. Often translated as 'after' in English, its usage extends far beyond simple temporal succession, encompassing spatial relationships, logical connections, and even idiomatic expressions. This article delves deep into the various facets of 'après', providing a comprehensive understanding for learners and enthusiasts of the French language.

Temporal Connotations: The Most Common Usage

At its core, 'après' signifies a sequence in time. It establishes a reference point, indicating that something occurs subsequent to a particular event, time, or period. This is its most frequent and straightforward application.

1. After a Specific Time or Event:

When followed by a noun denoting a time or an event, 'après' clearly marks what follows.

• Après cinq heures, nous irons au parc. (After five o'clock, we will go to the park.)
• Après la réunion, nous discuterons des résultats. (After the meeting, we will discuss the results.)
• Après l'été pluvieux, l'automne rayonnait. (After the rainy summer, the autumn shone.)

Interestingly, 'après' can be used without an article before certain nouns that designate canonical hours:

• Tu partirais le dimanche après vêpres. (You would leave on Sunday after vespers.)
• Je viendrais vous voir après none. (I would come to see you after none.)

2. After a Period of Time:

'Après' can also indicate that an action or event occurs after a duration of time has passed.

• Après un moment de réflexion, il a pris sa décision. (After a moment of reflection, he made his decision.)
• Après des années de silence, le groupe a sorti un nouvel album. (After years of silence, the band released a new album.)
• Après longtemps, on se retrouva. (After a long time, we met again.)

3. After an Action or State:

It can refer to the sequence following a completed action or a change in state.

• Après son départ, la maison est devenue très calme. (After his departure, the house became very quiet.)
• Après son refus, il a dû trouver une autre solution. (After his refusal, he had to find another solution.)
• Après la découverte de la maladie, des mesures ont été prises. (After the discovery of the illness, measures were taken.)

4. With Infinitives:

'Après' can be followed by an infinitive, often with the subject of the infinitive being the same as the main clause.

• Le valet de chambre s'est retiré après avoir attisé le feu. (The valet withdrew after stoking the fire.)
• Bernard et André se sont retrouvés après s'être perdus de vue pendant des années. (Bernard and André met again after losing sight of each other for years.)
• Elle fut enveloppée dans la demi-obscurité après avoir traversé la chaussée. (She was enveloped in the half-darkness after crossing the road.)

An exception occurs when the subject of the infinitive is different from the main clause:

• Après nous être séparés d'elle, elle chargea les puissances. (After separating from her, she charged the powers.)
• Après avoir quitté cette ville, la pluie cessa. (After leaving this town, the rain stopped.)

5. 'Après que' - A Conjunctive Phrase:

The phrase 'après que' functions as a conjunction, introducing a subordinate clause. Historically, it was followed by the indicative mood. However, in modern French, the subjunctive mood is increasingly common, often conveying a sense of certainty or completion.

• Après que nous avons mangé nos pommes de terre, nous sommes restés réunis. (After we had eaten our potatoes, we remained gathered.) - Indicative
• Après que nous ayons mangé nos pommes de terre, nous sommes restés réunis. (After we had eaten our potatoes, we remained gathered.) - Subjunctive (modern usage)
• Après qu'il eût trahi, beaucoup affectèrent de répondre à son salut. (After he had betrayed, many pretended to return his greeting.) - Subjunctive (archaic)

The shift towards the subjunctive with 'après que' is a notable evolution in French syntax, reflecting a tendency to express the aspect of the event.

Adverbial Use: 'Après' on its Own

As an adverb, 'après' often implies 'later' or 'afterwards', occurring at the end of a sentence or clause.

• Vous ferez après ce qu'il vous plaira. (You will do afterwards what you please.)
• Je crois entendre l'éclat de rire du démon, et bientôt après. (I think I hear the demon's laughter, and soon after.)
• Un quart d'heure après, la cloche sonna. (A quarter of an hour later, the bell rang.)
• Les hommes après. (The men afterwards.)

The expression 'par après', while less common in modern standard French, is still found, particularly in regional dialects, meaning 'afterwards' or 'later on'.

• Elle devait s'en repentir plus de quatre fois, par après. (She would regret it more than four times, afterwards.)

Substantive Use: The 'Après' of Tomorrow

Less frequently, 'après' can be used as a noun, referring to the time that follows an event or a state.

• J'ai essayé d'imaginer un après quelconque. (I tried to imagine some kind of aftermath.)
• Il faut suivre la grande voie creusée par Zola, mais tracer un chemin parallèle, atteindre les en deçà et les après. (One must follow the great path carved by Zola, but trace a parallel path, reach the 'befores' and the 'afters'.)
• Toutes nos expériences se disposent selon l'avant et l'après. (All our experiences are arranged according to the before and the after.)

Spatial and Logical Transpositions

The concept of 'after' extends beyond mere time to encompass space and logical order.

1. Spatial Sequence:

In a spatial context, 'après' indicates what lies beyond a certain point or what is reached after passing a landmark. It can also imply movement towards something.

• Qu'est-ce qu'il y a après le bord du glacier? (What is there after the edge of the glacier?)
• Après la place, j'avais le choix entre deux rues. (After the square, I had the choice between two streets.)
• Nous courons après nos souvenirs mêmes comme après des ombres. (We chase our very memories as if chasing shadows.)
• Les gendarmes cherchent après Gorloge. (The gendarmes are looking for Gorloge.)

2. Logical Order and Rank:

'Après' can also denote a position in a hierarchy or a sequence of importance, indicating inferiority or coming later in a ranking.

• C'était peut-être, après mon père lui-même, le meilleur homme que j'aie jamais connu. (He was perhaps, after my father himself, the best man I had ever known.)
• Je ne me souviens d'elle que comme de la créature la plus ratatinée qu'il m'ait été donné de voir, après ma grand'mère. (I only remember her as the most shrivelled creature I have ever seen, after my grandmother.)

Common Locutions and Expressions

'Après' forms part of several common and essential French expressions:

1. 'D'après' (According to):

This prepositional phrase indicates reliance on a source, norm, or model.

• Nous supportons l'adversité, non d'après tel ou tel principe, mais selon notre caractère. (We bear adversity, not according to this or that principle, but according to our character.)
• Nous étions occupés à peindre d'après nature. (We were busy painting from nature.)
• Joseph comprit que le héros, d'après sa manière de répondre, n'était même pas du pays voisin. (Joseph understood that the hero, judging by his manner of responding, was not even from the neighbouring country.)

2. 'Après tout' (After all):

This adverbial expression is used to introduce a concluding or definitive statement, often after considering various factors.

• Après tout, que suis-je ici de plus que vous? (After all, what am I here more than you?)

3. 'Et après?' (And then? / So what?):

This interjection expresses defiance or indifference.

• Et après? Qu'est-ce qu'il y a de changé? (And then? What has changed?)

4. Iterative Constructions:

Phrases like 'minute après minute' or 'l'un après l'autre' emphasize repetition or succession.

• C'était la maison où elle l'attendait, nuit après nuit. (It was the house where she waited for him, night after night.)
• On tirait pièce après pièce, coup par coup. (They fired piece by piece, shot by shot.)

Historical and Phonetic Notes

The word 'après' has a rich history, evolving from the Low Latin 'adpressum', meaning 'near' or 'close to'. This origin explains its older usage in French to denote proximity. Phonetically, the standard pronunciation is [apʀɛ]. Liaison, the linking of a final consonant sound with an initial vowel sound of the next word, is generally not made with 'après' when it acts as an adverb, but it is typically made when 'après' is a preposition followed by a word starting with a vowel or silent 'h'.

Understanding the myriad uses of 'après' is key to mastering French. From its fundamental role in indicating temporal sequence to its more nuanced applications in spatial, logical, and idiomatic contexts, 'après' proves to be an indispensable word in the French lexicon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between 'après' and 'après que'?

A1: 'Après' is a preposition used on its own or followed by a noun or infinitive. 'Après que' is a conjunctive phrase that introduces a subordinate clause and is typically followed by a verb in the indicative or subjunctive mood.

Q2: Can 'après' be used to mean 'behind'?

A2: Yes, in certain contexts, particularly in older or more literary French, 'après' can imply 'behind' or 'following someone'. For example, 'il traînait cette chaîne terrible après lui' (he dragged this terrible chain behind him).

Q3: Is it correct to use the subjunctive after 'après que'?

A3: While historically the indicative was used, modern French increasingly favours the subjunctive after 'après que', especially when the action is viewed as completed or certain. Both are considered acceptable, but the subjunctive is becoming more prevalent.

Q4: What are some common phrases using 'après'?

A4: Common phrases include 'd'après' (according to), 'après tout' (after all), and iterative phrases like 'l'un après l'autre' (one after another).

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