Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,

I wonder if 'afterwards' and 'later' have the same meaning and are interchangeable in the following cases?
A:
1.At first he denied all guilt, but he later made a partial confession.
Or
2.At first he denied all guilt, but afterwards he made a partial confession.

B:
1.We had tea, and afterwards we sat in the garden for a while.
Or
2.We had tea, and later we sat in the garden for a while.

Thank you in advance.

[myprofe]

All your sentences are correct. You could also have written "after that" instead of afterwards.
I would only add that later means at a later time and not necessarily immediately following or after.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner1]

Hello,

Myprofe, thank you very much for your comment. According to what you said, do you mean that 'afterwards' means "immediately following or after an event"?

Thank you very much.

[myprofe]

Yes, I would agree with that for both "after that" and "afterwards".

We went to the cinema and afterwards had something to eat. Later we went for a walk along the beach.

First Action - We went to the cinema.

Second Action - We had something to eat.

At some time later but not "Third Action" - We walked along the beach.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner1]

Hello,
Thank you very much, Myprofe. I understand the difference between the two words now because of your help.