JLPT N5 · Before, after and when · 49 of 60

Before with まえに

～まえに ~ mae ni Before doing

Dictionary form + まえに (mae ni) means "before": 寝る前に, before I go to bed. The verb before まえに stays the same, even in the past.

Level: JLPT N5, beginner
Type: Before, after and when
English links: time clauses, before + -ing, ago, tense in clauses

What it means

まえ (前) means "front" or "before". Put a verb in the dictionary form, the plain present like 食べる or 行く, add 前に, and you get "before doing": 食べる前に, before eating.

The verb before 前に stays in the dictionary form, even when the sentence is about the past. 寝る前に歯を磨きました: I brushed my teeth before I went to bed. The tense comes at the end of the sentence.

With a noun, add の: 授業の前に, before class. With a length of time, there is no の: 三年前に, three years ago. That last one means "ago", so it makes a useful contrast.

Japanese always says "before A" first, then B. English can say it both ways: "Before I eat, I wash my hands" or "I wash my hands before I eat."

How to build it

Pattern	How it works
Verb (dictionary form) + 前に verb (dictionary form) + mae ni	Always the dictionary form: 行く前に, 寝る前に, 来る前に.
行きます → 行く → 行く前に ikimasu → iku → iku mae ni	Go from the ます form back to the dictionary form.
Noun + の前に noun + no mae ni	授業の前に, before class.
Length of time + 前に length of time + mae ni	三年前に, three years ago. No の.

Examples

寝る前に、歯を磨きます。 neru mae ni, ha o migakimasu. I brush my teeth before I go to bed.
授業の前に、コピーをします。 jugyou no mae ni, kopii o shimasu. I make copies before class.
食べる前に、手を洗ってください。 taberu mae ni, te o aratte kudasai. Please wash your hands before you eat.
日本に来る前に、ひらがなを勉強しました。 nihon ni kuru mae ni, hiragana o benkyou shimashita. I studied hiragana before I came to Japan.
三年前に、この学校に来ました。 sannen mae ni, kono gakkou ni kimashita. I came to this school three years ago.

How English says it

"Before" can take a noun ("before class"), an -ing verb ("before eating"), or a full clause with a subject and verb ("before I eat"). In a clause, the verb takes the right tense: "before I came to Japan" is past.

The "before" part can go first or last. If it goes first, add a comma: "Before I came to Japan, I studied hiragana."

"Ago" is different. It comes after the length of time: "three years ago", not "before three years".

Why it can make English hard

The Japanese verb stays in the dictionary form, so students may keep the present in English when the sentence is past: "I studied hiragana before I come to Japan."
三年前 looks like "three years before", so you will often hear "before three years" for "three years ago".
"Before" + -ing and "before" + clause are two patterns. Some learners blend them, or drop both: "before eat".

Mistakes you will hear

I studied hiragana before I come to Japan. I studied hiragana before I came to Japan. The Japanese verb stays in the dictionary form. English needs the past here.
I came to this school before three years. I came to this school three years ago. 三年前 is "three years ago". "Ago" comes after the time.
Before eat, wash your hands. Before you eat, wash your hands. Use "before" + subject + verb, or "before eating".

In the classroom

Morning routine: students tell a partner what they do before school, using "Before I..., I...". Then switch to yesterday morning and change the tense in both parts.
Write 三年前 on the board and ask for the English. Many beginners say "before three years". Draw a timeline, mark "now", and count back to show "ago".
Give one sentence and have students flip it: "Before I eat, I wash my hands" becomes "I wash my hands before I eat." Point out where the comma goes.

Practice

Try each one, then open it to check.

1. Fill the gap with the right form of 行きます: 学校に＿＿前に、朝ご飯を食べます。

Answer: 行く

Use the dictionary form before 前に.
2. Translate: 会議の前に、お茶を飲みました。

Answer: I had some tea before the meeting.

Noun + の前に is "before" + noun.
3. A student writes "I lived in Osaka before five years." Fix it.

Answer: I lived in Osaka five years ago.

五年前 is "five years ago", not "before five years".
4. A student writes "Before I go to bed last night, I read a book." Fix it.

Answer: Before I went to bed last night, I read a book.

In English both verbs take the past. In Japanese, 寝る stays in the dictionary form.