Pronunciation is different from meaning.
Before: before Britain [bf(r)] America [BFR]; Before; In front (or in front); (in order or arrangement) in front; Face to face; ?
After: English [? ɑ? ft？ (r)] beauty [ft? After r]; After (time); Of repeatedly or one after another; Follow; Catch up; Behind (sb); After that, second only to; In contrast to ... Whereas; Although; Looking for; About; ?
Different usage
Before can be used to indicate time. It can mean "before", and then it can be followed by nouns or numerals indicating specific dates, times, etc. Or nouns indicating time or action.
Before can be used to indicate "before" or "before" in order or arrangement, as opposed to after. Extension can be used to express comparison, that is, "first", "better" and "more important" in terms of rank, value, importance and ability.
When before is used as an adverb, it means "before" and it means from not long ago to a long time ago. When used as an adverbial of time, when not used with specific time, it generally refers to the past tense or the present perfect tense. The former only means "happened in the past", while the latter emphasizes "having an impact on the present".
In the alphabet, b comes before c.
In the alphabet, b comes before c.
He made a statement in the House of Commons.
He made a public statement in the House of Commons.
He always puts the interests of others before his own.
He always puts the interests of others first.
I met him once before.
I met him once.
I have seen that movie before.
I have seen that movie before.
After can be used as a conjunction to connect adverbial clauses of time, and the present tense is generally used to indicate the future.
After, as an adverb, is often used with soon and ever, usually after the noun indicating time.
When After is used as an adverb, it is not used to compare grades.
They met in June and soon became lovers.
They met in June and soon became lovers.
The next day, he apologized.
The next day, he apologized.
They lived happily ever after.
Since then, they have been living happily.
After dinner, we went dancing in pairs.
After dinner, we went dancing in pairs.
After traveling for three days, I slept for 20 hours.
I traveled for three days and slept for 20 hours in a row.