Past vs. after

Question

Hello everyone!Can "after" replace "past" in the following sentence?The hospital's just up this road, about a mile past the school.As far as I know "after"  is used with time.Thank you!

Avangi · Accepted Answer

You're right.  I'd recommend against "after" in this situation.  You could use "beyond."

Uthman · Answer

Thank you very much!

BarbaraPA · Answer

Yet we do say "It will be the first right after you pass the fire station."

Avangi · Answer

Right.  Somehow, I've always taken "after you pass" as an event, not a place.  Whaddaya think?<img src="http://www.EnglishForward.com/emoticons/emotion-42.gif"/>

BarbaraPA · Answer

I agree.You are picturing the action of the person driving.

Uthman · Answer

Grammar GeekYet we do say "It will be the first right after you pass the fire station."

And "after" here is a conjunction, we can't use it as a preposition like "past". Can we?

It will be the first right after the fire station.

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

The hospital's just up this road, about a mile after the school.

If I heard this, it would sound just fine to me.

Clive

Uthman · Answer

Maybe this usage is colloquial?

BarbaraPA · Answer

I don't think so. It's just a way of thinking about things.

The items are static, but you are moving, so they come one after the other. You'll pass the church on the right, and the school is about half a mile after that.

It is the order in which they occur as you are moving past them.

It may be regional but I don't find it colloquial..

Uthman · Answer

Grammar GeekI don't think so. It's just a way of thinking about things.

The items are static, but you are moving, so they come one after the other. You'll pass the church on the right, and the school is about half a mile after that.

It is the order in which they occur as you are moving past them.

It may be regional but I don't find it colloquial..

Thank you, very helpful!

Past vs. after

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