Mastering "First/Then/After That"
Kenji sat in the morning meeting taking notes.
His manager spoke quickly about the new project.
"First we'll update the client database, then we'll send the reports, after that we'll schedule follow-up calls."
Kenji wrote down: "Update database... send reports... schedule calls."
He caught the actions. But he missed something important.
Which happened first? Which happened last? How did they connect?
Later that day, his coworker Maya heard similar instructions.
"First we'll review the budget, then we'll meet with accounting, after that we'll finalize the numbers."
Maya understood perfectly. She knew the exact order. She completed each step at the right time.
The difference? Maya understood English time patterns. Kenji only heard separate words.
The Time Sequence Problem
English speakers use rhythm to show time order.
They don't say: "Do three things. Thing one is this. Thing two is that. Thing three is the other."
They say: "First do this, then do that, after that do the other thing."
The rhythm creates the connection. But connected speech makes it hard to hear.
How "First/Then/After That" Really Sounds
Native speakers connect these time words to what comes next.
What they say: "First we'll meet"
How it sounds: "First-we'll-meet" (all connected)
What they say: "Then we'll plan"
How it sounds: "Then-we'll-plan" (flowing together)
What they say: "After that we'll start"
How it sounds: "After-that-we'll-start" (like one long word)
The time markers disappear into the rhythm.
The Three-Step Pattern
This pattern has three parts with specific rhythm:
FIRST [action one]
THEN [action two]
AFTER THAT [action three]
Each part gets equal rhythm stress. Like a drumbeat.
**Example:
** "FIRST we'll call the client, THEN we'll write the proposal, AFTER THAT we'll schedule the meeting."
The rhythm tells you the order.
Common Rhythm Variations
**"First" becomes "First-wull"
** "First-we'll check the numbers"
**"Then" connects completely
** "Then-we'll-send-the-email"
**"After that" becomes "After-that-wull"
** "After-that-a-we'll-wait-for-the-answers"
The extra sounds help the flow but make listening harder.
Practice Examples
**Example 1:
** Speaker: "First-we'll-review-the-contract, then-we'll-negotiate-the-price, after-that-we'll-sign-the-deal."
Meaning: Three clear steps in order: review → negotiate → sign
**Example 2:
** Speaker: "First-check-your-email, then-call-the-supplier, after-that-update-the-spreadsheet."
Meaning: Email first, phone call second, computer work last
**Example 3:
** Speaker: "First-we-gotta-finish-the-report, then-we-gotta-send-it-to-the-boss, after-that-we-can-go-home."
Meaning: Report → send → leave (in that exact order)
Why This Pattern Matters
English conversations build on time sequences.
Work instructions: "First prepare, then present, after that follow up"
Cooking directions: "First heat the oil, then add vegetables, after that add rice"
Travel plans: "First book the flights, then reserve the hotels, after that rent a car"
Everything in English follows time patterns.
Listening for the Rhythm
Focus on the stressed beats:
"FIRST we'll..." (strong beat)
"THEN we'll..." (strong beat)
"AFTER THAT we'll..." (strong beat)
Count the beats. Three beats = three steps.
The rhythm shows you the structure even when words blend together.
Common Mistakes
Listening for every word: Don't try to catch each small word. Listen for the rhythm pattern.
Missing the connections: The pattern shows order. "First" always comes before "then."
Forgetting the sequence: Write down 1, 2, 3 as you hear each part.
Ignoring rhythm stress: The strong beats tell you what's important.
Alternative Time Patterns
English has many ways to show sequence:
**"To start/Next/Finally"
** "To start, we'll call. Next, we'll meet. Finally, we'll decide."
**"Initially/Subsequently/Lastly"
** More formal version of the same pattern.
**"The first thing/The second thing/The last thing"
** "The first thing we do is call. The second thingwe do is meet. The last thing we do is decide."
All follow the same three-beat rhythm.
Kenji's Success
The next week, Kenji listened for rhythm patterns.
Manager: "First-we'll-update-the-system, then-we'll-train-the-team, after-that-we'll-launch-the-process."
Kenji heard: THREE beats. THREE steps. Clear order.
He wrote: "1. Update system, 2. Train team, 3. Launch process"
Perfect understanding. No confusion.
His work improved immediately.
The Flow Solution
English time patterns create conversation flow. Connected speech makes them hard to hear.
But when you listen for the rhythm beats, everything becomes clear.
"First... then... after that" isn't just words. It's the music that organizes English communication.