～前に
Before doing something
You’ll be able to say that one action happens before another in a sequence.
食事の前に手を洗います。
shokuji no mae ni te o araimasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
I wash my hands before a meal.
Say that one thing happens before another
Use 前に to place an action or event before another action in time.
寝る前に、歯を磨きます。
neru mae ni, ha o migakimasu.
I brush my teeth before going to bed.
Before an action: dictionary form + 前に
Use the dictionary form before 前に even when the main sentence is in the past.
出かける前に、朝ご飯を食べます。
dekakeru mae ni, asagohan o tabemasu.
I eat breakfast before going out.
寝る前に、本を読みました。
neru mae ni, hon o yomimashita.
I read a book before going to bed.
日本に行く前に、日本語を勉強しました。
nihon ni iku mae ni, nihongo o benkyou shimashita.
I studied Japanese before going to Japan.
Before a noun or event
Put の between a noun and 前に.
授業の前に、コーヒーを飲みます。
jugyou no mae ni, koohii o nomimasu.
I drink coffee before class.
旅行の前に、ホテルを予約しました。
ryokou no mae ni, hoteru o yoyaku shimashita.
I booked a hotel before the trip.
試験の前に、よく勉強しました。
shiken no mae ni, yoku benkyou shimashita.
I studied hard before the exam.
～てから vs ～前に
Both order two actions, from opposite ends. てから names what happens first; 前に names what happens second and puts it first in the sentence.
前に, before
寝る前に、歯を磨きます。
neru mae ni, ha o migakimasu.
I brush my teeth before going to bed.
寝る comes second in time, even though it is written first.
てから, after
歯を磨いてから、寝ます。
ha o migaite kara, nemasu.
I go to bed after brushing my teeth.
歯を磨く comes first in time and is written first.
寝る前に、歯を磨きます。
neru mae ni, ha o migakimasu.
I brush my teeth before going to bed.
学校へ行く前に、朝ごはんを食べます。
gakkou e iku mae ni, asagohan o tabemasu.
I eat breakfast before going to school.
ごはんを食べる前に、手を洗ってください。
gohan o taberu mae ni, te o aratte kudasai.
Please wash your hands before eating.
11 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.