Antes and Depois: Infin

Usually, infinitives are neutral. They don't change for people. In Portuguese, the infinitive can be personal. It conjugates to match the subject. This happens after specific prepositions. Antes de and depois de are the big ones. Why does this matter? It adds clarity to your sentences. You can specify who did what. English says "after eating." Portuguese can say depois de nós comermos. It removes all the guesswork. It feels like a GPS for your listener. It keeps the flow natural. You don't need to restart sentences. It’s like a shortcut for complex thoughts. Think of it as a secret sauce. It makes your Portuguese taste authentic. It’s perfect for university students. It’s great for the office too.

1. 1Creating this is actually quite easy. You start with the base verb. Then, you add specific endings. Follow these simple steps:
2. 2Take the base infinitive (like falar).
3. 3For eu, add nothing: antes de falar.
4. 4For tu, add -es: antes de falares.
5. 5For ele/ela/você, add nothing: antes de falar.
6. 6For nós, add -mos: antes de falarmos.
7. 7For vós, add -des: antes de falardes.
8. 8For eles/elas/vocês, add -em: antes de falarem.
9. 9It looks like the Future Subjunctive. For regular verbs, they are identical. For irregulars, they are different. This keeps things interesting. It’s like a puzzle you can solve. Just remember the person you mean. Match the ending to them. Then, put antes de or depois de first.

Use this when subjects change. This is the golden rule. Antes de eu sair, você chegou. Here, two people are acting. The personal infinitive makes this clear. Use it to emphasize the actor. Even if the subject is the same. Depois de eu estudar, dormi. It sounds more personal and focused. Use it in job interviews. Depois de eu analisar os lucros... sounds impressive. It shows you take responsibility. Use it when asking for directions. Antes de nós virarmos, onde estamos? It helps the local understand you. Use it when ordering food. Depois de nós comermos, queremos a conta. It keeps the waiter informed. It’s basically a social lubricant. It makes interactions smoother for everyone.

Don't use it with nouns alone. Antes do almoço is perfect. You don't always need a verb. If there is no action, skip it. Don't use it for general facts. Depois de comer, não nade. This is a general warning for everyone. The simple infinitive is better here. It’s like a broad brush stroke. Don't use it if it sounds clunky. Sometimes, less is more in conversation. If the subject is super obvious, relax. You don't want to sound robotic. Grammar is a tool, not a cage. Use it to help, not hinder. If you’re tired, keep it simple. Nobody will judge your coffee order. Even if you miss one -mos.

Mixing up antes de and antes que. This is the classic trap. Antes que needs the Subjunctive mood. Antes de loves the Infinitive. Another mistake is forgetting the endings. Depois de nós ir sounds very wrong. It should be depois de nós irmos. It’s like wearing one shoe. It works, but it’s awkward. People also forget the preposition de. Never say antes sair. Always include the de. It’s the glue of the phrase. Another funny mistake? Using it with the past tense. Depois de eu comi is a no-go. Stick to the infinitive form. Your brain might fight you here. Just tell it to relax and simplify. The infinitive is your best friend.

Compare antes de with antes que. Antes de is usually for infinitives. It feels more direct and spoken. Antes que feels a bit more formal. It triggers the Present Subjunctive. Depois de vs depois que is similar. Depois que often takes the Indicative. Depois que eu comi, saí. Depois de eu comer, saí. Both mean the same thing. The infinitive version is often shorter. It feels more modern and sleek. Like a sports car vs a bus. Both get you there eventually. But one feels much faster. Learn to switch between them easily. It shows true B2 level flexibility. It’s like having two sets of keys.