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Lesson 8, Pattern 2: Sequence of Actions
last revised January 8, 2004

Sequence of actions can be expressed using the adverb, 就,with 以後 as one possible element in the first clause of the sentence.  The meaning of such sentences is "After the first action, the second action happened or will happen."  If the two clauses share the same subject, the subject may be dropped from one clause.  There are several possible variations.  If 了 is added after the second clause, then both actions took place in the past. If there is a 了 after the first verb but not at the end of the sentence, then both actions will take place in the future.  If there is no 了 at all, then the tense of the sentence is ambiguous, but a time-word can make it clear. Note that if the first verb is a Verb-Object Verb you must treat the verb and object as if they were separate words.
 
First Action Second Action Examples
S-V1-Obj1-以後 (S)-就-V2-Obj2 他洗澡以後就吃早飯。 (habitual present)
After he has a bath he has breakfast. 
昨天起床以後他就去學校。(ambiguous/past)
Yesterday after getting up he went to school. 
(Note: If you added 了 to the sentence above, it would be more universally acceptable to native speakers.)
S-V1-了-Obj1-以後 (S)-就-V2-Obj2 我寫了日記以後就去跳舞。 (future)
After I write my diary entry I'll go dancing. 
(你)寫了信以後就去睡覺。(command-future)
Go to bed after you finish writing the letter.
我吃了飯以後就走了。 (past)
Right after I ate, I left.
S-V1-了-Obj1 (S)-就-V2-Obj2 他做了功課就去朋友家玩兒。 (future)
After he does his homework, he'll go to a friend's house (to "play").
他吃了飯就回家了。 (past)
After he finished eating he went back home.
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