After?

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Would "after/before+negation," such as "after I don't smoke," would work fine?

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Would "after/before+negation," such as "after I don't smoke," would work fine?


Not in general. The negative does not mark a point in time, which is required after "before" or "after".

e.g.

Before I stopped smoking, I had a persistent cough.

After I stopped smoking, the cough went away.


There are few very odd cases, for example.

They were engaged for a very long time. They got married after I don't know how many years.

Comments  

"After + negative" is not used in English. "Before + negative" is sometimes used in a threatening kind of way, for example:


Mom to child: "You'd better be good before I don't take you for ice cream."


"You'd better study before you don't pass your final exams."

Students: We have free audio pronunciation exercises.
anonymousMom to child: "You'd better be good before I don't take you for ice cream."

That is not good English.

"You'd better be good before I don't or I won't take you to get for ice cream."

anonymous"You'd better study before you don't pass your final exams."

That is not good English.

"You'd better study or you won't before you don't pass your final exams."

 AlpheccaStars's reply was promoted to an answer.

OK. Thanks, AS!

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