after/afterwards

[Mad-ox]

hi,

Who could tell me what is the difference in meaning between these two words?

m

[BobK]

hi,
Who could tell me what is the difference in meaning between these two words?
m

After is a preposition; you follow it with a noun or noun phrase - After the party, he came home.

Afterwards is an adverb. He went to the party, and afterwards he came home.

(I believe After works as an adverb too in AmE, and this usage is infiltrating BE as well. You'll want to hear some US views about that.)

b

[Mad-ox]

thanks Bobk

[BobK]

thanks Bobk

You're welcome.

That 'Americanism' I mentioned ('after' as preposition) may be another home-grown language trait that went across with the Pilgrim Fathers. There's an old nursery rhyme, that goes -

...Jack fell down and broke his crown [hurt his head]
And Jill came tumbling after. [= 'after him']

Possible origins of this are various (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_and_Jill_%28song%29)
But they're mostly old enough for this usage to have gone across on the Mayflower.

b

[Mad-ox]

You are so well informed. Thank you again,

Best wishes,

m