before
/bɪˈfɔː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [bɪfˈɔr] /bɪˈfɔːr/ (ame, ipa)
before — preposition
1. used with a time, event, or action to show that one thing happens sooner than it
used with a time, event, or action to show that one thing happens sooner than it.
Matthew checked the train time before breakfast and left a note on the table.
before + noun phrase for earlier time
Before sunrise, Lakshmi watered the balcony plants beside the kitchen window.
Quinn reread the safety card before takeoff on the crowded evening flight.
Tamar checked the map before crossing the old bridge in heavy rain.
文法句型
before + noun phrase
before + gerund
用法筆記
Often followed by a noun phrase or an -ing form. Use it for the earlier point, not for the length of time.
2. used after a period of waiting to say that something did not happen until that t
used after a period of waiting to say that something did not happen until that time had passed.
Nearly midnight passed before Lara heard the baby stop crying upstairs.
time period + before + clause after delay
Three weeks went by before Hamza received a reply from the embassy.
An hour slipped away before Adaeze found her missing wallet under the seat.
Several calls failed before Kenji reached a nurse at the clinic.
文法句型
[time period] + before + clause
it was + [time period] + before + clause
用法筆記
Usually follows an amount of time such as minutes, days, or months. It highlights waiting or delay before the event finally happens.
3. used to say that the same thing happened at an earlier point in your life or mem
used to say that the same thing happened at an earlier point in your life or memory.
I had met Minh once before at a conference in Osaka.
perfect tense + before for prior experience
Zuri felt sure she had heard that melody somewhere before.
Christopher had never cooked for thirty guests before that wedding weekend.
Lakshmi recognized the street at once because she had been there before.
文法句型
have/has/had + verb + before
never + verb + before
用法筆記
Common after perfect forms and verbs such as see, meet, hear, or do. It often implies prior experience rather than simple time order.
4. on the forward side of someone or something.
on the forward side of someone or something.
The child stopped before the glass tank and pointed at the shark.
before + object showing physical front position
A long line formed before the bakery on the cold rainy morning.
Hamza stood before the blue curtain while the photographer adjusted the lights.
The hikers rested before a stone gate covered with wet moss.
文法句型
before + place/person
用法筆記
More formal than everyday 'in front of'. It usually marks physical position, not importance or sequence.
5. used when one place, item, or choice is reached or ranked earlier than another.
used when one place, item, or choice is reached or ranked earlier than another.
The pharmacy comes before the bank if you walk from the station.
route order: reach one place first
On the guest list, Quinn's name appears before Tamar's by one line.
The park is before the bridge on the road to campus.
In the alphabet, K comes before L and after J.
文法句型
before + place on a route
before + item in an order
用法筆記
Used for routes, lists, and priorities. The thing after 'before' is the later stop, later item, or less important choice.
6. in the hands of an authority that will examine, discuss, or decide the matter.
in the hands of an authority that will examine, discuss, or decide the matter.
The budget plan is before the city council this afternoon.
before + authority handling a proposal
Two witnesses appeared before the judge after lunch on Tuesday.
The appeal will come before the board early next month.
A new safety rule is before the committee for discussion tonight.
文法句型
before + court/committee/board
appear before + judge
用法筆記
Common with courts, judges, boards, and committees. The authority after 'before' is the one that will decide or examine the matter.
7. with other people present to watch, hear, or witness what happens.
with other people present to watch, hear, or witness what happens.
Lara sang before hundreds of visitors in the open-air square.
before + audience
Hamza refused to argue before the children during dinner.
Adaeze spoke briefly before the press after the final match.
文法句型
before + audience/group
用法筆記
Often used with witnesses, crowds, or the press. It stresses that other people are present to hear or watch.
8. waiting for someone in the future, often as a task, season, or choice they must
waiting for someone in the future, often as a task, season, or choice they must face.
A difficult winter lies before the mountain village this year.
future situation waiting ahead
With exams before her, Lakshmi canceled the weekend trip.
Several hard choices stood before the new manager that morning.
文法句型
before + person
before + group
用法筆記
Usually pairs with future-looking nouns such as task, summer, or choice. It points to what is waiting ahead.
before — adverb
1. at some point earlier; not for the first time.
at some point earlier; not for the first time.
I had seen that narrow alley before, so I turned left at once.
standalone adverb meaning previously
Kenji had lived in Seoul before and knew the subway well.
We spoke to that guide before during our spring trip.
Lara looked at me as if we had met before.
文法句型
have/has/had + verb + before
the night/day before
用法筆記
Often comes with perfect tenses or phrases such as 'the night before'. It refers back to an earlier time that is already known.
2. in front, moving or positioned ahead of others.
in front, moving or positioned ahead of others.
The scout rode before while the supply truck crawled through the mud.
before meaning ahead in movement
A pale lantern swung before as the group entered the cave.
Two drummers marched before, and the dancers followed behind them.
文法句型
move/go/march + before
用法筆記
Rare outside formal or literary descriptions of movement. In everyday English, speakers usually choose 'ahead' or 'in front'.
3. in legal or official English, under the attention of an authority that will judg
in legal or official English, under the attention of an authority that will judge or act on the matter.
The fraud case is before the court again next Monday.
formal legal use
A climate bill comes before Congress later this week.
The complaint first came before the board in April.
文法句型
be before + court/body
come before + congress/board
用法筆記
Mostly legal or parliamentary. Common with verbs such as 'come' or 'be' when a court, board, or congress is dealing with a case or bill.
before — conjunction
1. at a time earlier than the one when another action happens.
at a time earlier than the one when another action happens.
Finish the soup before the noodles get too soft.
before + clause for later event
Kenji locked the studio before he left for the station.
Before the lights went out, Lara found the spare batteries.
Call me before your train reaches Taichung after sunset.
文法句型
main clause + before + clause
before + clause, + main clause
用法筆記
This is the ordinary time-order sense. The 'before' clause names the later event, while the main clause tells what happens earlier.
2. only after a stated event happens or after a period of waiting ends.
only after a stated event happens or after a period of waiting ends.
It was noon before the clouds cleared above the harbor.
delayed result after a period of time
Two days passed before the repair team reached the village.
An awkward silence grew before anyone answered the teacher.
Months went by before Adaeze trusted the new medication.
文法句型
[time period] + before + clause
it was + [time period] + before + clause
用法筆記
Often follows expressions of time or waiting such as 'hours', 'days', or 'months'. It emphasizes that the later event took time to arrive.
3. used to say someone would choose one action sooner than another.
used to say someone would choose one action sooner than another.
Hamza would walk home before he asked his rude cousin for money.
would ... before ... for strong refusal
Lakshmi would resign before she signed a false report.
The chef would close the cafe before serving frozen soup.
文法句型
would + main action + before + clause
用法筆記
Usually appears with 'would' to show strong refusal or preference. The speaker chooses the main-clause action instead of the one in the 'before' clause.
4. used after an instruction to show the action that should happen first so a probl
used after an instruction to show the action that should happen first so a problem does not follow.
Save the file before the laptop battery dies during the presentation.
first action taken to avoid a problem
Hold the rail before you step onto the icy path outside.
Check the gas valve before you leave the kitchen tonight.
文法句型
do X before + clause
check/save/hold + object + before + clause
用法筆記
Common in advice and instructions. The first action is recommended as a way to stop a problem from happening.
5. used in warnings to mean that a bad result will happen if someone does not act s
used in warnings to mean that a bad result will happen if someone does not act soon.
Put your name on the lunch box before someone else takes it.
warning about what will happen otherwise
Hurry before the shop closes for the holiday weekend.
Step back before the branch snaps under the heavy snow.
文法句型
imperative + before + clause
hurry/move/step back + before + clause
用法筆記
Stronger than sense 4. It sounds like a warning that a bad result will follow if action is not taken quickly.