Später vs nachher

In lesson 13.9, regarding future tense, the second questions asks for the German word for "later" and I marked Später and the answer was correct. The very next question asked for the German word again for 'later' and since the lesson was about future tense, I marked Nachher but was marked wrong. As I see it, the same question stated twice is either incorrectly repeated or, should have referred to the future tense "Nachher" in which case my total score would have been 100 percent instead of 80 percent. If I am wrong for some unknown reason, I can accept that but if the as question stated is wrong, then I should be granted the extra 20 points for a total of 100 percent as "nachher" is translated as sometime later..

Ich glaube es wahr nicht wirklisch so wichtig. Bitte, vergiss es;.

Hi Marvin, I'd like to know myself. I understand Paul is on vacation, but perhaps he can answer this later.

Hi Byron, Ich habe keine Antwort erhalten so nach ein paar Tagen habe ich es gelöscht. Es war nicht wichtig genug. Tut mir leid.

I'll answer in English since my German isn't good enough to convey what I would regard as the distinction between später and nachher. I suspect it's rather like English. Ask yourself what's the difference between later and afterwards? In some cases, probably nothing. However to me, afterwards implies some preceding event whereas later is just simply that, later in time without reference to any preceding event.

Greetings Byron, It is fast becoming obvious to me, the more I think about it that, 1. either my answer was correct relative to the repeated question for translation of "Later", or 2. Whoever made up the quiz questions simply and perhaps inadvertently listed the same question twice requiring Später as an answer for both but why when the Topic is future tense. "Nachher is a valid translation for "Later" in the future tense sense as you have confirmed (and which also the lesson confirms). The singly worded question itself does not restrict it from being a future event and as I stated abpve, the lesson plan is about future tense. Since I answered correctly on the first "Later" question, the second "Later" should be "Nachher".

Hi Marvin, I have neglected Rocket during my holiday. Feel free to ask me your question again. 'Später' is used as 'later' whereas 'nachher' is used as 'afterwords' but can serve as 'later' as well in English. 'Ich gehe später ins Kino.'->'I go to the movie theater later.' 'Ich gehe nachher ins Kino.'->'I go to the movie theater later.' 'Ich gehe später ins Kino und nachher nach Hause.'-> 'I go to the movie theater later and afterwords home.' Cheers Paul

Paul, You have just confirmed what I thought. On the two identical questions, one right after the other; Translate "later" (as I recall the question wording) I answered Später on the first question and nachher on the second, which I feel was valid as the lesson was about future tense. Yet I was marked wrong and scored 80%. It's not that 20 points is going to make any difference now but more a matter of principle in the validity of the test question.

Hi Marvin, do you remember what quiz that was? I would like to check it.

Paul, Thanks for responding. The lesson was # 13.9, question 2 and 3. I used später on question two and nachher on the third question, but was marked wrong as they said the correct was später in both cases and I disagreed. Marvin

Hi Marvin, 'später' and 'nachher' can both mean later depending on the context so shouldn't be in the same quiz. 'Nachher' is also used as 'afterwards' in English. I will get it corrected for you. Thanks for letting me know Paul

Hi Marvin and Byron, I just wanted to let you know that the quiz has been fixed as per Marvin's suggestion. Thanks for the feedback!