subsequently

Hi,

Yes, it can be used for the future.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

Thank you very much for your reply.
Are 'subsequently', 'afterwards', 'then' and 'after that' interchangeable in the sentences below?

"First cook the onions, then/afterwards/subsequently/after that add the mushrooms."

"Not only did I vomit, but I had the runs. Subsequently/Afterwards/Then/After that, I went to see a doctor."

"We lived in France and then Italy before coming back to England."

Would it be fine to say 'and afterwards Italy/and subsequently Italy/and after that Italy' instead of 'and then Italy' here?

Thanks a lot.

Hi,

My Oxford dictionary offers this.

subsequent (adj) followinga specifed event etc,. in time, especially as a consequence. subsequently (adv)

Could you give me an example of 'subsequently' used for future? I'm going to complete my M. Sc. in 2010. Subsequently, I'm going to apply for medical school.

'Subsequently' does not fit your cooking examples, because there is no hint in them of 'consequence'. In addition, it is too 'fancy' a word. 

"First cook the onions, then add the mushrooms."

Can I use afterwards, subsequently, or after that in the sentence above instead of 'then'? Yes, but 'then' is best, because it is short and simple. You could also say 'next' or 'now'.

For example,

First cook the onions, afterwards add the mushrooms.

First cook the onions, after that add the mushrooms.

First cook the onions, subsequently add the mushrooms.

Are 'afterwards', ''then', 'after that'  and  'subsequently' interchangeable in the following sentence? 'Subsequently' is good here, because it suggests 'later in time' and  'consequence'.

"Not only did I vomit, but I had the runs. Subsequently/After that/Afterwards/Then, I went to see a doctor."

Best wishes, Clive

Hi,

"Not only did I vomit, but I had the runs. After that/Afterwards/Then, I went to see a doctor."
Do you mean 'after that, afterwards, and then' are not good here? Is it because they don't suggest 'consequence'? In other words, aren't they used for following an event as a consequence? I just meant that I like 'subsequently' because it suggests consequence. However, we say the other things too, and more often. That's partly because a word like 'then' is much sorter abd easier to say than 'subsequently. In addition, we often just leave it to the listener/reader to figure that something is a consequence of something else. Often, it's very obvious.

Coul you please tell me when you would usually use 'after that' or 'afterwards'? They just express sequence in time, although a consequence may be implied.

eg (no consequence) I listened to the radio. After that/afterwards, I watch TV. 

eg (consequence) I broke my leg while skiing. After that/Afterwards, I never skied again.

"We lived in France and then Italy before coming back to England."

Would it be fine to say
"We lived in France and afterwards Italy before coming back to England."Yes.
or
"We lived in France and after that Italy before coming back to England." Yes.

Best wishes, Clive