Spanish · B1 · Family moment
One Step Further in Spanish
Developing routines helps children understand sequences and expectations. In Spanish, to express that one action must be completed before another starts, we often use 'después de que' followed by the Present Perfect Subjunctive.
What you'll learn
- Use 'después de que' to indicate sequences of events.
- Form the Present Perfect Subjunctive to talk about completed steps.
- Practice common household and school-related vocabulary in a temporal context.
Spanish phrases for one step further
Después de que hayas terminado los deberes, guardas la carpeta en la mochila.
After you have finished your homework, you put the folder in your bag.
Uses 'hayas terminado' to show the homework must be finished first.
Después de que hayamos leído el cuento, hablamos de tu parte favorita.
After we have read the story, we talk about your favourite part.
'Hayamos leído' refers to the completed reading session.
Después de que te hayas lavado las manos, me ayudas a preparar la fiambrera.
After you have washed your hands, you help me pack your lunchbox.
'Lavarse' is reflexive, so the 'te' comes before the auxiliary verb 'hayas'.
Después de que hayas revisado el horario de mañana, eliges los libros que necesitas.
After you have checked tomorrow's timetable, you choose the books you need.
'Revisar' is the natural verb for checking a schedule.
Después de que tu amigo se haya ido a casa, recogemos el juego juntos.
After your friend has gone home, we tidy up the game together.
'Recoger' is the standard verb for tidying up toys or games.
Después de que hayas contado tus monedas, anotas el total en tu libreta.
After you have counted your coins, you write the total in your notebook.
'Anotar' means to jot down or note something.
Después de que hayamos llegado al polideportivo, te cambias los zapatos.
After we have arrived at the sports club, you change your shoes.
'Polideportivo' is a common term for a sports club or complex.
Después de que te hayas cepillado los dientes, te leo otro capítulo.
After you have brushed your teeth, I read you another chapter.
The present tense 'leo' indicates the immediate subsequent action.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
deberes
homework
Commonly used in the plural in Spain; 'tarea' is more common in Latin America.
fiambrera
lunchbox
Also referred to as 'táper' or 'lonchera' depending on the region.
horario
timetable / schedule
Refers to both school schedules and general time management.
recoger
to tidy up / pick up
Crucial verb for domestic routines with children.
The Present Perfect Subjunctive for Sequences
When describing a routine where one action must be finished before another (after you have done X...), Spanish uses 'después de que' followed by the Present Perfect Subjunctive (Haber in subjunctive + Past Participle).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tú form | hayas + participio | Después de que hayas comido... |
| Nosotros form | hayamos + participio | Después de que hayamos jugado... |
| Él/Ella form | haya + participio | Después de que él haya salido... |
More examples
Una vez que hayas terminado, podemos salir.
Once you have finished, we can go out.
'Una vez que' is a synonym for 'después de que' in these contexts.
Hablamos cuando te hayas calmado.
We'll talk when you have calmed down.
Using 'cuando' with the perfect subjunctive also indicates a completed prior state.