JLPT N5 grammar

〜前にmeaning and usage

Meaning

A前に、B means that B happens before A occurs or begins.

How to form it

  • verb (dictionary form)前に
  • nounの前に
  • number + counter前に

How it is used

“Before”: the verb is always in the dictionary form, even for past events (「寝る前に」). Nouns add 「の」 (「食事の前に」). After a length of time it means “… ago”: 「三年前に」.

Examples

  1. 運動し始める前にストレッチをしてください。

    Please stretch before you start exercising.

  2. 出かける前に、窓を閉めてください。

    Please close the windows before you go out.

  3. 日本に来る前に、日本語を少し勉強しました。

    Before coming to Japan, I studied a little Japanese.

About the example 運動し始める前に uses 前に to place the requested stretching before the start of exercise.