How to Use “Depois de” in Portuguese with Infinitives and Nouns

Introduction

This article explains how to use Depois de in Portuguese with infinitives and nouns. You will learn the grammar rules, see clear examples in Brazilian Portuguese, and understand common usage and differences with similar structures. By the end you will be comfortable saying what happens after an action or event using depois de.

What Depois de Means

Depois de literally means after and is used to show that one action or event follows another in time. It can be followed by an infinitive verb, a noun, or a clause. The structure you choose depends on what you want to emphasize: the action, the completed event, or a full clause with its own subject and verb.

Basic forms at a glance

Use Depois de + infinitive to talk about an action that will be or has been done. Use Depois de + noun to refer to a specific event or time. Use Depois que + clause when a complete sentence follows and you need a different subject. Examples below clarify these differences.

Depois de + Infinitive: Structure and Use

The structure Depois de + infinitive is one of the most common ways to link actions. In Portuguese the infinitive is the verb in its base form, such as viajar, comer, estudar. This structure emphasizes the action itself rather than the event as a noun.

When to use this form

Use Depois de + infinitive when the subject of the action after is the same as the subject of the main clause or when you simply want a shorter expression. It often replaces a subordinate clause for simplicity and fluency.

Examples with explanation

Eu vou dormir depois de estudar.
Here estudar is the infinitive and the subject eu applies to both sleeping and studying.

Nós saímos depois de almoçar.
Almoçar is a completed action that happened before leaving; subject nós is understood for both verbs.

Ele ligou para mim depois de pensar melhor.
Pensar melhor is the action he finished before calling.

Negation and time markers

To negate, place não before the verb or use negative expressions as usual. You can add time markers to specify when something happened relative to the action.

Eu não fui trabalhar depois de comer.
Eu saí depois de terminar o relatório, então cheguei tarde.
Adding depois de terminar o relatório clarifies sequence and reason.

Depois de + Noun: Using Events and Moments

When Depois de is followed by a noun, you refer to a completed event, a time period, or a specific moment. This structure often highlights the event rather than the action itself.

When to choose a noun

Choose Depois de + noun when you want to talk about the aftermath of an event: after the party, after the meeting, after the exam. Use a nominal phrase to emphasize the event.

Examples with explanation

Depois da festa, todos estavam cansados.
Here festa is a noun; the sentence emphasizes the party as an event whose consequences are being described.

Ficamos conversando depois do jogo.
Jogo is the event; depois do jogo tells when the conversation happened.

Depois do almoço, temos uma reunião.
Almoço is a time period or meal being referenced as a noun.

Gender and contraction with articles

When you use a noun, remember that de contracts with definite articles. Use do for de + o and da for de + a. For plural, dos and das apply. These contractions are mandatory and common in spoken and written Brazilian Portuguese.

Examples: depois do show, depois da prova, depois dos trabalhos, depois das férias.

Depois de vs. Depois que: Choosing the Right Connector

Depois de and Depois que both mean after, but they are used differently. Use Depois de before infinitives and nouns. Use Depois que when you need a full clause with an explicit subject and conjugated verb.

When to use Depois que

Use Depois que + clause if the subject of the following action is different from the main clause, or when you want to include a conjugated verb and additional information.

Example contrasts

Depois de chegar, liguei para você.
Here chegar is an infinitive and the subject is the same as the main clause. It is a concise construction.

Depois que ele chegou, eu liguei para você.
This uses depois que and a full clause because the subject of chegar is ele and we explicitly state it.

Infinitives: Personal vs. Impersonal Uses

Portuguese has two types of infinitives: the impersonal infinitive (common in many uses) and the personal infinitive (which can be conjugated to agree with the subject). With Depois de the impersonal infinitive is far more common and natural for most learners.

Personal infinitive note

The personal infinitive is used to show variation in subject agreement, e.g., depois de nos reunirmos. While grammatically correct, using the personal infinitive after Depois de is less common in everyday speech and often replaced by Depois que + clause for clarity.

Example: Depois de nos reunirmos vs Depois que nos reunimos. Both are possible, but depois que + clause is typically clearer for learners.

Expressing Future or Past Actions

Depois de can express both future and past relationships between events. Context and verb tense in the main clause determine whether you refer to the past or the future.

Past sequences

Eu comecei a trabalhar depois de me formar.
Me formar is an infinitive referring to an action that happened before starting work. The main verb começou is in the past, so the whole sentence refers to past events.

Future sequences

Vou descansar depois de terminar o relatório.
Terminar is an infinitive that will happen before descansar in the future. Both actions are future but their order is clear.

Common Verbs and Collocations with Depois de

Some verbs appear often with Depois de in daily speech. Learning common collocations helps you sound natural.

Frequently used verbs: chegar, comer, estudar, trabalhar, sair, dormir, ligar, terminar, viajar, conversar.

Common nouns after depois de: almoço, festa, reunião, prova, jogo, viagem, trabalho, escola, compromisso.

Examples:
Vou estudar depois de jantar.
Eles saíram depois do compromisso.
A reunião acontece depois da pausa.

Usage Notes and Nuance

Colloquial Brazilian Portuguese often shortens or simplifies time expressions. People sometimes omit explicit subjects when context makes them clear, so Depois de + infinitive feels natural and compact.

In formal writing, you might find more use of Depois de + noun or Depois que + clause to maintain clarity. In spoken language, Depois de + infinitive is extremely common and natural.

Be careful with literal translations. In English you might say after doing something, which maps well to Depois de + infinitive, but English also freely uses after + noun; Portuguese requires the correct contractions with articles and the right connector when a clause follows.

Regional and Cultural Notes

In Brazil, everyday speech favors simplicity and rhythm. You will hear many speakers use Depois de + infinitive, especially in casual conversation. Some regions may prefer certain verbs or expressions, but the grammar rules remain consistent across the country.

Cultural context matters: for scheduling or polite requests, Brazilians often combine depois de with time markers or polite phrasing: Podemos conversar depois do almoço? or Posso te ligar depois de resolver isso? These forms are both natural and commonly used.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Using Depois de before a conjugated verb without changing to Depois que.
Incorrect: Depois de ele chegou, saímos.
Correct: Depois que ele chegou, saímos.

Mistake 2: Forgetting article contraction with nouns.
Incorrect: Depois o jogo, fomos embora.
Correct: Depois do jogo, fomos embora.

Mistake 3: Overusing personal infinitive unnecessarily. Simpler structures are often preferred by learners. Use personal infinitive when you need subject agreement, but otherwise stick with the impersonal infinitive or depois que + clause.

Putting It All Together: Practical Examples

Eu vou ler um livro depois de jantar.
Nós viajamos depois das férias.
Depois que você chegar, vamos começar a reunião.
Ela resolveu o problema depois de pensar com calma.
Depois do show, fomos tomar um café.

Conclusion

Using Depois de correctly helps you express sequences in time with clarity. Remember: use depois de + infinitive for actions, depois de + noun for events or moments, and depois que + clause for full sentences with different subjects. With practice you will naturally choose the right structure and sound fluent in Brazilian Portuguese.