before
before — preposition
1. used when something happens on the earlier side of a named time point or event.
used when something happens on the earlier side of a named time point or event.
Rina packed the picnic before sunrise on the last school holiday.
before + time noun phrase
Please return the library books before Friday afternoon.
The shop closes before the evening rush in this neighborhood.
No one ate dinner before Dad's return from work.
- earlier than
is a fuller phrase with almost the same meaning
- prior to
is more formal and common in official writing
- after
shows a later time
文法句型
before + time noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the basic time sense. It takes a noun phrase, not a full clause; compare the conjunction in sense 1, as in 'before the bus leaves'.
常見錯誤
2. up to the time or event named, with that point acting as the limit.
up to the time or event named, with that point acting as the limit.
No buses stop here before six on winter mornings.
negative statement: not before + time
The baby hardly sleeps before midnight on warm nights.
Zane never checks his phone before breakfast with his grandmother.
Few tourists reach the island before the end of June.
文法句型
not ... before + time or event noun phrase
用法筆記
Often appears with negatives such as 'no', 'hardly', 'never', and 'few'. Distinguish it from sense 1 by the idea of a limit: the action does not happen until that point is reached.
常見錯誤
3. at an earlier time in your life or in history.
at an earlier time in your life or in history.
Before the war, the bridge carried farmers across the river.
before + historical event
I had met Nora before our science club trip to Hualien.
Before the internet, our family shared news by letter.
Before now, our town had never seen snow in May.
- earlier
is the most direct everyday alternative
- previously
is more formal and common in writing
- later
refers to a following time
文法句型
before + past event
before + named period
before now
用法筆記
Used when the speaker looks back from a later point. Unlike sense 1, it often works without naming one exact deadline and instead points generally to an earlier period.
常見錯誤
4. further forward than someone or something, or placed ahead of them in order, imp
further forward than someone or something, or placed ahead of them in order, importance, rank, or the future.
A white van stopped before the school gate at noon.
physical position: before + place
Emma's name comes before mine on the class list.
order: come before + person
Several hard weeks still lie before the rescue team.
At this hospital, patient safety comes before speed.
- in front of
is the clearest everyday choice for physical position
- ahead of
often stresses order, progress, or competition
- above
can refer to higher rank, but not all future or order uses
文法句型
before + person or thing in position, order, rank, or future
用法筆記
This sense stretches beyond simple place. It is common with lists and ranks ('come before') and with future situations ('lie before us'). Distinguish it from sense 5, which is specifically about places on a route.
常見錯誤
5. in front of a person or group so they can watch, listen, judge, or decide about
in front of a person or group so they can watch, listen, judge, or decide about it.
The case comes before the city court next Tuesday.
formal review: come before + court
Leila sang before a packed hall on opening night.
perform before + audience
The budget will be placed before the board tomorrow morning.
Zane was too nervous to speak before the whole class.
- in front of
fits the audience meaning, but not the formal decision-making meaning as well
- before the court
is a fixed legal expression for cases under review
- in the presence of
is more formal and stresses being watched or heard
文法句型
come before + court or board
speak or perform before + audience
用法筆記
Subject is often a case, plan, bill, or budget when a group must decide about it. With people and audiences, it means in their presence while they watch or listen.
常見錯誤
6. used for a place that comes along the route sooner than the destination you are
used for a place that comes along the route sooner than the destination you are heading for.
There is a gas station before Tainan on Highway 1.
place before destination
The village sits before the mountain pass on the old road.
A small temple comes before the bridge from our side.
Before Kaohsiung, the bus stops at Pingtung for ten minutes.
- ahead of
can also work for route order, but is broader
- on the way to
is less exact and focuses more on the journey than on order
- after
marks a place reached later on the same route
文法句型
place + before + destination
用法筆記
This sense is about travel sequence, not general time. It is common in directions and route descriptions, especially with towns, exits, bridges, and stations.
常見錯誤
before — adverb
1. at some previous point; earlier in your experience or story.
at some previous point; earlier in your experience or story.
I had seen that singer once before at the night market.
collocation: once before
Before, this room was a bakery for railway workers.
sentence adverb: before, ...
Our teacher explained the rule before, but Sam forgot it.
The town looked much quieter before than it does today.
- earlier
is the closest everyday alternative
- previously
is more formal and common in writing
- once
can overlap in context, especially with past experience
- later
means at a following time
- afterwards
means following that time or event
文法句型
once before
before + clause pause
had ... before
用法筆記
Unlike the preposition, this use stands alone without an object. Compare with 'beforehand', which usually means in advance of a later event rather than simply at an earlier time.
常見錯誤
2. in the front position or further ahead.
in the front position or further ahead.
The drum team marched before, with dancers behind them.
literary adverb: before = ahead
A narrow path opened before, and the children ran toward it.
The bride's sisters went before, scattering white flower petals.
A security guard walked before, and the guests entered in pairs.
- behind
means at the back or further to the rear
文法句型
stand or shine before
march before
用法筆記
This adverb is much less common than 'ahead' or 'in front'. It appears mostly in literary, descriptive, or old-fashioned narrative styles.
常見錯誤
before — conjunction
1. at a point sooner than the moment when another action or state begins.
at a point sooner than the moment when another action or state begins.
Finish your lunch before the bus leaves the museum.
before + full clause
Nina had called me before the storm reached our town.
Please switch off the oven before you leave for school.
Before the bell rings, every student must sit down quietly.
- earlier than
fits the time meaning but is less natural for full clauses
- ahead of the time when
is possible, but much less natural in everyday English
- after
shows a later time relation between the two clauses
文法句型
before + subject + verb
用法筆記
This is the clause form of 'before'. It must be followed by a subject and a verb, unlike preposition sense 1, which takes only a noun phrase.
常見錯誤
2. earlier than another action had time to happen.
earlier than another action had time to happen.
The dog grabbed the sandwich before Jin could stop him.
before + could + verb
Before I could answer, the phone cut off.
fronted clause with could
The ice melted before the children were ready to skate.
Before anyone noticed, Leo slipped out the back door.
- before ... had time to
explains the same idea more fully
- so quickly that
changes the structure, but keeps the meaning
文法句型
before + subject + could / can + verb
用法筆記
This sense often appears when something happens too quickly for a person to react. 'Before ... could ...' is a very common pattern.
常見錯誤
3. so that an unwanted thing does not happen.
so that an unwanted thing does not happen.
Hide the cake before the children find it in the fridge.
preventive pattern: act first to stop later event
Take the clothes inside before the rain soaks them.
Lock the gate before the dog runs into the street.
Turn off the stove before the milk boils over.
- so that ... not
explains the same purpose more directly
- lest
is much more formal and literary
文法句型
main clause + before + unwanted event clause
用法筆記
The main clause tells someone to act first, and the before-clause names the specific bad event they want to stop. Distinguish from sense 5, which is more about urgency or a lost chance.
常見錯誤
4. not until the time when the action in the clause happens.
not until the time when the action in the clause happens.
It may be weeks before the road opens again.
time expression + before + clause
A long time passed before Hana heard any news.
Several years went by before the brothers met again.
It was midnight before the children finally fell asleep.
文法句型
it was / may be + time + before + clause
用法筆記
This sense usually appears after a period of waiting or delay. The event in the before-clause is the point finally reached after that period.
常見錯誤
5. used to warn or remind that something should happen first, or a bad result or lo
used to warn or remind that something should happen first, or a bad result or lost chance may follow.
Leave now before the last train is gone.
urgent warning: act now or lose chance
Tell Ava today before she hears it from someone else.
Before I forget, your blue umbrella is still in my car.
Book the table early before every window seat is taken.
- otherwise
states the warning more directly
- while there is still time
spells out the urgency
文法句型
do something before + bad result / missed chance clause
before I forget
用法筆記
Sense 3 focuses on preventing one specific event. This sense is broader and often adds urgency, reminding someone to act while there is still time.
常見錯誤
6. used to show what someone would choose or accept sooner than something else.
used to show what someone would choose or accept sooner than something else.
Mina would walk home before she asked that rude man for help.
would ... before + clause
Before I lie to Grandma, I will tell the truth.
fronted preference contrast
Theo chose to sleep outside before he shared the tiny tent.
Carla would practise alone before she quit the team.
- rather than
is the most direct equivalent
- sooner than
often appears in the same type of preference contrast
文法句型
would ... before + clause
用法筆記
This sense usually compares two choices and says the first one is more acceptable. 'Would ... before ...' is the strongest and most typical pattern.