După pasul acesta, totul devine clar.

După usually means after. In this sentence, it marks sequence: after this step.

It can refer to:

• time: after something happens
• order/process: after a certain stage in instructions or explanation

Here it works very naturally for both ideas: once this step is done, everything becomes clear.

If after is followed by a whole clause, Romanian often uses după ce instead:

• După ce faci pasul acesta, totul devine clar.
• After you do this step, everything becomes clear.

Both are correct and both can mean this step.

Romanian has two common patterns:

• acest pas = demonstrative before the noun
• pasul acesta = demonstrative after the noun

A useful rule is:

• if the demonstrative comes before the noun, the noun is usually not separately marked with the definite article: acest pas
• if the demonstrative comes after the noun, the noun usually takes the definite article: pasul acesta

So:

• acest pas
• pasul acesta

Both are standard. The postposed version pasul acesta is very common and can sound a bit more pointed or concrete, like this specific step here.

Because Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun, not as a separate word like English the.

So:

• pas = step
• pasul = the step

In pasul acesta, the noun is definite because you are saying this step, so Romanian uses the definite form pasul.

This is a very important Romanian pattern:

• băiat = boy
• băiatul = the boy
• carte = book
• cartea = the book

They are related forms, but they are used differently.

• acest = used before a masculine singular noun
  
  • acest pas
• acesta = used after the noun or on its own
  
  • pasul acesta
  • Acesta este pasul corect.
• ăsta / asta = more informal, conversational forms
  
  • pasul ăsta
  • asta

So in this sentence, because the demonstrative comes after the noun, acesta is the expected standard form.

Totul means everything or the whole thing.

Compare:

• tot can mean all, whole, still, or also, depending on context
• totul is the clearer noun/pronoun meaning everything

Examples:

• Totul este clar. = Everything is clear.
• Am citit tot. = I read everything / all of it.
• Este tot aici. = He is still here.

So in your sentence, totul is the natural choice for everything.

Because devine means becomes, not is.

So:

• Totul este clar. = Everything is clear.
• Totul devine clar. = Everything becomes clear.

The sentence is showing a change of state: after this step, things were not clear before, but then they become clear.

That is why devine is a very good choice here.

Because totul is grammatically singular, and in Romanian a neuter singular noun behaves like a masculine singular for agreement.

So the predicate adjective is:

• clar, not clară

This is a key feature of Romanian neuter nouns:

• in the singular, they behave like masculine
• in the plural, they behave like feminine

So:

• totul devine clar
• but: lucrurile devin clare = the things become clear

Yes. După normally takes the accusative.

In this sentence:

• după pasul acesta

However, you do not see a special change in form here, because for this kind of noun phrase, the nominative and accusative look the same.

So learners should know the grammar point, but in practice the form here is exactly what you would expect.

Yes, you could.

Romanian word order is fairly flexible, especially with adverbial phrases like după pasul acesta.

Compare:

• După pasul acesta, totul devine clar.
• Totul devine clar după pasul acesta.

Both are correct.

The difference is mostly about emphasis:

• După pasul acesta... puts the time/sequence idea first
• Totul devine clar... starts with the main statement

The version with După pasul acesta first sounds very natural in explanations, instructions, or teaching.

Not always. It is often a matter of style and rhythm.

Both are possible:

• După pasul acesta, totul devine clar.
• După pasul acesta totul devine clar.

The comma creates a small pause and makes the introductory phrase stand out a bit more. With short introductory phrases, Romanian writers may use a comma or leave it out, depending on style.

A rough English-friendly pronunciation is:

DOO-puh PAH-sul a-CHES-ta, TO-tul de-VEE-ne klar

A few useful details:

• ă in după is a central vowel, something like a relaxed uh
• ce in acesta sounds like che in chess
• clar has a clear k sound at the beginning, because Romanian c before l is /k/

Word stress:

• DUpă
• PAsul
• aCHESta
• TOtul
• deVIne
• clar