adverbA2
Etter, etter at eller etterpå?
[Difference: 'Etter', 'Etter at', and 'Etterpå']'Etter', 'etter at', and 'etterpå' all express chronological sequence, but belong to distinct word classes: 'etter' is a preposition (before nouns), 'etter at' is a subjunction (introduces dependent clauses), and 'etterpå' is an adverb (stands independently).
1. Grammatical Roles and Structural Rules
Summary table showing what structural elements follow each word:
Word
etter(etter (after))
Word Class
Preposisjon(Preposition)
Syntactic Structure and Example
etter + substantiv/pronomen: Vi spiser lunsj etter møtet.(etter + noun: We will eat lunch after the meeting.)
Word
etter at(etter at (after that))
Word Class
Subjunksjon(Subjunction)
Syntactic Structure and Example
etter at + subjekt + verb: Vi spiste lunsj etter at møtet var ferdig.(etter at + clause: We had lunch after the meeting ended.)
Word
etterpå(etterpå (afterwards / later))
Word Class
Adverb(Time Adverb)
Syntactic Structure and Example
etterpå står alene: Først hadde vi et møte. Etterpå spiste vi lunsj.(etterpå stands independently: First we had a meeting. Afterwards we had lunch.)
| Word | Word Class | Syntactic Structure and Example |
|---|---|---|
etteretter (after) | PreposisjonPreposition | etter + substantiv/pronomen: Vi spiser lunsj etter møtet.etter + noun: We will eat lunch after the meeting. |
etter atetter at (after that) | SubjunksjonSubjunction | etter at + subjekt + verb: Vi spiste lunsj etter at møtet var ferdig.etter at + clause: We had lunch after the meeting ended. |
etterpåetterpå (afterwards / later) | AdverbTime Adverb | etterpå står alene: Først hadde vi et møte. Etterpå spiste vi lunsj.etterpå stands independently: First we had a meeting. Afterwards we had lunch. |
2. Common Errors and Comparative Examples
Notice how the exact same situation can be constructed in three distinct ways:
Examples:
1. Med 'etter': Jeg skal trene etter jobben. (etter + substantiv)1. With 'etter': I will work out after work.
2. Med 'etter at': Jeg skal trene etter at jeg er ferdig på jobb. (etter at + leddsetning)2. With 'etter at': I will work out after I finish work.
3. Med 'etterpå': Først skal jeg jobbe. Etterpå skal jeg trene. (etterpå = tidsadverb)3. With 'etterpå': First I will work. Afterwards I will work out.
Classic error: writing 'etter jeg kom hjem' (incorrect!). When followed by a subject and verb, you must always include 'at': 'etter AT jeg kom hjem'.
3. Tense Harmony with 'etter at' (Past and Future Sequence)
When two actions happen sequentially, Norwegian requires specific tense combinations for past and future contexts:
Time Frame
Fortid (to handlinger i fortiden)(Past (two past actions))
Rule for Action 1 (earlier) and Action 2 (later)
Etter at + preteritum perfektum (hadde + partisipp) → hovedsetning i preteritum(Etter at + past perfect (hadde + pp) → main clause in simple past)
Example (with translation)
Han spiste middag etter at han hadde dusjet. / Etter at hun hadde handlet mat, satt hun på kafé.(He ate dinner after he had showered. / After she had bought groceries, she sat at the café.)
Time Frame
Framtid (to handlinger i framtiden)(Future (two future actions))
Rule for Action 1 (earlier) and Action 2 (later)
Etter at + presens perfektum (har + partisipp) → hovedsetning i futurum (skal + infinitiv)(Etter at + present perfect (har + pp) → main clause in future (skal + inf))
Example (with translation)
Jeg skal trene etter at jeg har spist middag. / Etter at han har vasket bilen, skal han se på TV.(I will exercise after I have eaten dinner. / After he has washed the car, he will watch TV.)
| Time Frame | Rule for Action 1 (earlier) and Action 2 (later) | Example (with translation) |
|---|---|---|
Fortid (to handlinger i fortiden)Past (two past actions) | Etter at + preteritum perfektum (hadde + partisipp) → hovedsetning i preteritumEtter at + past perfect (hadde + pp) → main clause in simple past | Han spiste middag etter at han hadde dusjet. / Etter at hun hadde handlet mat, satt hun på kafé.He ate dinner after he had showered. / After she had bought groceries, she sat at the café. |
Framtid (to handlinger i framtiden)Future (two future actions) | Etter at + presens perfektum (har + partisipp) → hovedsetning i futurum (skal + infinitiv)Etter at + present perfect (har + pp) → main clause in future (skal + inf) | Jeg skal trene etter at jeg har spist middag. / Etter at han har vasket bilen, skal han se på TV.I will exercise after I have eaten dinner. / After he has washed the car, he will watch TV. |
Memory anchor: The action occurring FIRST chronologically always takes a completed perfect aspect ('hadde gjort' in past, 'har gjort' in future).