Search blog

What is Only after? Detailed general knowledge and exercise

Only after is one of the forms of inverted sentences used when you want to emphasize that something is done only after another event occurs. Inversion is a type of sentence in which the usual order of the sentence is reversed, with adverbs and auxiliary verbs placed before the subject. In this article, PREP will help you better understand how to use only after!

I. What is only after?
II. The usage of Only after in English
III. Distinguishing between the inverted structures: only after, immediately after, right after
IV. Some notes when using Only after
V. Exercises to practice the structure only after with detailed answers

I. What is only after?

Composed of two simple words, only - /ˈoʊnli/ (meaning "exclusively" or "just") and after - /ˈæftər/ (meaning "subsequent to" or "later"), the phrase only after signifies "exclusively after." For example:

Only after finishing my content auditing task could I go back home.
Only after it stopped raining, did I go on a picnic.

Here are some common phrases often encountered with "only":

Common phrases with “Only”	Meaning	Example
Only if	Used to indicate that something can happen or be true only under a specific condition.	Only if my boyfriend apologizes, will I forgive him.
Only later	Refers to a time that is subsequent to the present or a previously mentioned time.	Only later in the contest did I realize my mistake.
Only once	Indicates that something occurs a single time, without repetition.	Only once have I been to Australia.
Only then	Implies that a certain action or event will happen exclusively at that time.	Only then the meeting with my boss did I understand the problem.
Only when	Indicates that something happens solely at a particular time.	Only when you finish this task, can you reach your goal.
Only by	Used to express that something can happen or be achieved solely through a specific means or method.	Only by studying English regularly, can you improve your level.
Only in	Suggests that something is true or valid exclusively within a particular context or situation.	Only in the food street, can you find such a variety of food.
Only with	Indicates that something is done or applied exclusively in conjunction with a particular element or condition.	Only with my support, can Anna finish this project.

II. The usage of Only after in English

To emphasize that one action occurs only after another action has taken place, we use Only after. How is the formula for Only after constructed? There are a total of 3 basic inverted formulas with Only after that you need to know.

Structure of Only after	Formula	Example
Structure 1	Only after + V-ing + auxiliary verb + S + base form of the verb	Only after finishing my KPI, could I relax and enjoy a vacation. Only after practicing English speaking for hours every day, did she become a professional English speaker.
Structure 2	Only after + S + V + auxiliary verb + S + base form of the verb	Only after the rain stopped, did we decide to go for a walk on the beach. Only after my parents had agreed, did I buy a new motorbike.
Structure 3	Only after + Noun + auxiliary verb + S + base form of the verb	Only after careful consideration, did she accept the content creator offer at Star Company. Only after a long and difficult journey, did Anna and Tim finally reach their destination.

III. Distinguishing between the inverted structures: only after, immediately after, right after

For some learners, it can be easy to confuse the structures only after, immediately after, and right after. To clarify and avoid mistakes in exams as well as in communication, the following examples will help you understand how these three terms differ:

Structure	Usage	Example
Only after	The structure only after is used to describe an event or action that serves as a prerequisite for another action to take place.	Only after finishing my product task, could I relax. Only after trying many different jobs, did Anna find the one she loved.
Right after	This structure also conveys the meaning of an action or event occurring immediately after another action or event. The key difference here is that the preceding action is not a condition or prerequisite that leads to the subsequent action. The two events simply occur in succession.	Right after the bell rang, the students rushed out of the classroom. Right after the year-end party ended, we started cleaning up.
Immediately after	The structure Immediately after means "right after" and is used to emphasize the time frame immediately following an event. Notably, after the phrase Immediately after, there will not be a clause; instead, it will be followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (V-ing).	Immediately after hearing the news that she passed the scholarship, she burst into tears. Immediately after the squall storm, people started to search for survivors.

IV. Some notes when using Only after

When using Only after, you need to keep the following issues in mind:

When converting a complete original sentence into the inverted form using only after, you need to use the base form of the verb and adjust the auxiliary verb according to the tense used in the original sentence. For example:
- I realized how nice the actress acts after watching this movie. (Original sentence)
- ➡ Only after watching this movie, did I realize how nice the actress acts.
After only after, there must be a noun, a clause, or a gerund (V-ing).
- Only after many failures, did John finally succeed.
- Only after the storm stopped, did the flight take off.
- Only after completing the content project, could they take a break.

V. Exercises to practice the structure only after with detailed answers

To help remember how Only after is used and what types of sentences it can form, let’s practice with the following exercises.

Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences using Only after.

The students only started paying attention after the professor had written on the board.
You only find the correct answer after you have carefully analyzed the question.
The company only sought outside assistance after they had exhausted their internal resources.
My mother only allows us to watch TV after we have completed our chores.
The dog only comes inside after the rain has stopped.

Answer key:

Only after the professor had written on the board, did the students start paying attention.
Only after you have carefully analyzed the question, will you find the correct answer.
Only after they had exhausted their internal resources, did the company seek outside assistance.
Only after we have completed our chores, does my mother allow us to watch TV.
Only after the rain has stopped, does the dog come inside.

This article provides basic knowledge points about the inverted structure of Only after shared by PREP. Additionally, you can refer to other common structures to strengthen your foundational grammar knowledge!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.