ENGLISH
REFERENCE

followed by sb/sth

fixed phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

fixed phr.. This is used to say what comes next in a sequence. If A is followed by B, it means B happens or appears right after A.

fixed phr.. A passive construction used to indicate that one item, event, or action succeeds another in a sequence. It functions to link elements chronologically or logically.


SIMPLE

The main course is followed by dessert.

CONTEXTUAL

Each presentation will be followed by a short question and answer session.

COMPLEX

The initial period of rapid economic expansion was followed by a decade of stagnation that reshaped the nation's political landscape.

Usage

This phrase is very common for describing schedules, recipes, or any list of things in order.

Teaching tip

Emphasize that this is the passive form of 'to follow'; the active equivalent is 'B follows A' or 'A comes before B'.

Pitfall

The speech followed by questions.The speech was followed by questions.This phrase needs a form of the verb 'to be' (like is, are, was, were) before 'followed'.

© 2026 English Reference