The use of "que" in Spanish can indeed be confusing, especially when it appears in conjunction with conjunctions like "después." Here's a breakdown to help clarify:
"Después de" + [noun or gerund]: When you use "después de," it is usually followed by a noun or a gerund (the -ing form in English). In this case, you do not use "que." For example:
"Salgo después de las cinco." (I leave after five.)
"Salgo después de comer." (I leave after eating.)
"Después que" + [verb clause]: When you use "después que," it is followed by a complete verb clause. This structure tends to indicate a more specific sequence of events where the action following "después que" is emphasized as a necessary completion before the next action. For example:
"Salgo después que termine todo." (I leave after everything is finished.)
Here's the difference in a nutshell:
"Después de" is used for referring to a time period or an action in a more general sense.
"Después que" is used to emphasize the completion of one action before the start of another.
Understanding when to use "que" depends on the structure of the sentence you're forming and what follows "después." If it's a noun or an activity being described in general terms, use "después de." If you're emphasizing a condition or action that needs to be completed before proceeding, use "después que."
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