～前に
Meaning
Expresses an action or event that occurs before another action or time point.
"Before doing..." / "Before [noun]..."
How to Form
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | Verb + 前に | 食べる前に → Before eating |
| Noun | Noun + の + 前に | 勉強の前に → Before study |
Use the dictionary form of the verb (not た-form or て-form).
For nouns, insert の before 前に.
Examples
-
学校に行く前に、朝ごはんを食べます。
I eat breakfast before going to school. -
寝る前に、本を読みます。
I read a book before sleeping. -
試験の前に、たくさん勉強した。
I studied a lot before the exam.
Notes
- Indicates sequence: what happens first.
- Often used in daily planning and routines.
- Common with time-related nouns: 授業(じゅぎょう)の前に, 旅行(りょこう)の前に, etc.