After vs. Afterward — What's the Difference?

Moving along, "after" can also emphasize the idea of chasing or pursuit, whereas "afterward" remains consistent in indicating a later time. One might say, "The cat ran after the mouse," employing "after" to demonstrate a chase. On the other hand, "afterward" doesn't carry this sense of pursuit. It strictly conveys the notion of time, as in "They discussed the project; afterward, they had coffee."

It's noteworthy that the flexibility of "after" makes it appear in various contexts, from showing sequence, pursuit, to basis of decision. In contrast, "afterward" has a more singular function in the English language, serving mainly to point out what comes next in a sequence of events.

Additionally, "after" can also hint at a basis for actions or decisions in the sense of "in light of" or "considering." For instance, "After all that happened, I decided to stay." "Afterward" doesn't function this way; it sticks to denoting a subsequent timeframe, as in "The event was tiring; we relaxed afterward."

"After" and "afterward" both relate to the concept of something following in time or order. "After" can be employed as both a preposition and a conjunction, directing attention to a subsequent event or occurrence. For instance, "We had lunch after the meeting." Conversely, "afterward" functions as an adverb and typically denotes what comes later in a sequence of events. For example, "We had a meeting; afterward, we had lunch."