JLPT N5 Grammar
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Before
Category: Conjunctions & Reasons
The grammar pattern "〜前に" is used to indicate that an action occurs before another action. It is a conjunction that shows the relationship between two events in time. The verb before "前" is always in dictionary form, regardless of the tense of the main clause. This pattern is commonly used to express actions that take place before a meal, a sleep, or other events. It can also be used to describe actions that happened before a certain point in time.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb in dictionary form | Verb dictionary form + 前に | 寝る前に、歯をみがきます。 |
| Noun with の | Noun + の + 前に | 食事の前に、手を洗います。 |
| Noun without の | Noun + 前に | 日本に前から、興味がありました。 |
寝る前に、歯をみがきます。
Ne-ru mae-ni, ha-o migaki masu.
I brush my teeth before I sleep.
寝る (sleep) + 前に (before) + 歯をみがきます (brush teeth)
食事の前に、手を洗います。
Shokuji no mae-ni, te-o araimasu.
I wash my hands before meals.
食事の (meal's) + 前に (before) + 手を洗います (wash hands)
日本に前から、興味がありました。
Nihon ni mae-kara, naiyo ga arimashita.
I had been interested in Japan before.
日本に (to Japan) + 前から (before) + 興味がありました (had been interested)
旅行の前に、荷物を整理します。
Ryokou no mae-ni, nimotsu-o tsumazuite imasu.
I organize my luggage before the trip.
旅行の (trip's) + 前に (before) + 荷物を整理します (organize luggage)
大学に入る前に、勉強を頑張ります。
Daigaku ni hairu mae-ni, benkyou o ganbarimasu.
I study hard before entering university.
大学に入る (enter university) + 前に (before) + 勉強を頑張ります (study hard)
This pattern is commonly used to express actions that take place before a meal, a sleep, or other events. It can also be used to describe actions that happened before a certain point in time. The verb before "前" is always in dictionary form, regardless of the tense of the main clause.
The verb before "前" must always be in dictionary form, regardless of the tense of the main clause.
The の is necessary to indicate the relationship between the noun and "前".
The correct word order is verb or noun + の + 前に, not the other way around.
Pay attention to the verb form and the use of の between a noun and "前". Make sure to use the correct word order and dictionary form of the verb.
寝る______、歯をみがきます。
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