Mastering Avant De – Après Avoir – Après Être
Have you ever wanted to say something like “before leaving the house” or “after having finished dinner” in French but weren’t quite sure how? You can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
Whether you’re locking the door before leaving or calling a friend after getting home, the expressions avant de – après avoir – après être will help you sound more natural and confident in French. Let’s take a look at how they work—with plenty of examples and space to practice your own!
Scroll down for a free video lesson and a downloadable lesson guide to help you master this topic.
AVANT DE + INFINITIVE
Use this construction to say that one action precedes another. There’s nothing to conjugate because this isn’t the main verb of the sentence.
Je ferme la porte à clé avant de partir pour la journée.
I lock the door before leaving for the day.
Nous dînons avant d’aller au cinéma.
We are having dinner before going to the cinema.
Il vaut mieux réfléchir avant de parler.
It’s better to think before speaking.
On fait une liste avant de faire les courses.
We are making a list before going grocery shopping.
AVANT DE + PRONOUN + INFINITIVE
When using pronouns, be sure to place them between DE and the infinitive.
Elle se démaquille avant de se mettre en pyjama.
She takes off her makeup before putting on her pyjamas.
Je ne savais pas ce que j’allais faire avant de t’en parler.
I didn’t know what I was going to do before talking to you about it.
J’aimerais goûter ces fraises avant d’en acheter un kilo.
I would like to taste these strawberries before buying a kilo of them.
Tu ne veux pas essayer de l’appeler avant de lui envoyer un SMS ?
Don’t you want to try to call her before sending her a text?
APRÈS AVOIR + PAST PARTICIPLE
Use this construction to say that something will be done after something else has been done by the same person. Use the whole infinitive AVOIR followed by the past participle with verbs that take AVOIR as helping verb in the passé composé.
Nous partirons après avoir fini le dessert et le café.
We will leave after having finished dessert and coffee.
Je suis allé(e) me coucher après avoir lu quelques chapitres.
I went to bed after having read a few chapters.
Elle est rentrée après avoir dit au revoir à tout le monde.
She went home after having said good-bye to everyone.
APRÈS AVOIR + PRONOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE
When using pronouns, be sure to place them between APRÈS and AVOIR. If you have a direct object pronoun that comes before AVOIR, you must make the pronoun agree with the past participle.
J’ai rangé les assiettes après les avoir nettoyées.
I put away the plates after having washed them.
Il a envoyé la lettre après l’avoir relue.
He sent the letter after having proofread it.
Il est parti après m’avoir parlé. (no agreement – indirect)
He left after having spoken to me.
APRÈS ÊTRE + PAST PARTICIPLE
Use this construction to say that something will be done after something else has been done by the same person. Use the whole infinitive ÊTRE followed by the past participle with verbs that take ÊTRE as helping verb in the passé composé. Don’t forget to make subjects and past participles agree.
Elle m’appellera après être rentrée.
She will call me after having returned home.
Après être allé à la plage il avait un vilain coup de soleil.
After having gone to the beach he had a bad sunburn.
Après être arrivés, nous avons commencé à vider nos valises.
After having arrived, we started to empty our suitcases.
APRÈS ÊTRE + PRONOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE
When using reflexive verbs, remember to use ÊTRE as helping verb and to make agreement when necessary.
Elle s’est séché les cheveux après s’être douchée.
She dried her hair after having showered.
Après m’être fait à manger, je me suis mise à table.
After having made myself something to eat, I sat down at the table.
Tu t’es changée de chemise après t’être regardée dans la glace.
You changed shirts after having looked at yourself in the mirror.
AVANT DE + INFINITIVE
APRÈS AVOIR + PAST PARTICIPLE
APRÈS ÊTRE + PAST PARTICIPLE
APRÈS ÊTRE + REFLEXIVE VERBS
Video Lesson – AVANT DE – APRÈS AVOIR – APRÈS ÊTRE
Learning how to use avant de – après avoir – après être is a small step that makes a big difference in your ability to express yourself clearly in French. These phrases are not only grammatically useful—they also reflect how people naturally speak in everyday situations. I hope the examples and explanations in this lesson have helped make these structures feel more approachable.
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