connective N5 essential casualpolitewritten
前に — before ~ing
前に ・ まえに
Builds on 前
Meaning
- before ~ing / prior to ~ — the main action happens earlier than the 前に clause
Key sentence
寝る前に、歯を磨く。
Before going to bed, I brush my teeth.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) / noun | V-る + 前に; N + の + 前に | 食べる前に / 食事の前に |
Examples
日本へ来る前に、少し日本語を勉強した。
Before coming to Japan, I studied a little Japanese.
出かける前に、鍵を確認する。
Before going out, I check for my keys.
When you can't use it
- The verb before 前に is always in the dictionary (non-past) form, even when the whole sentence is past: 食べる前に手を洗った ✓, never ×食べた前に.
Easily confused with
See 前に in real sentences
Jengo shows 前に the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.