Meaning
Shows an action that happens before another one. It is used with the plain form of a verb or a noun.
Formation
- The verb is always in the dictionary form: 寝るまえに (even about the past)
- A noun takes の: 食事のまえに
When to use it
- Core use
- Before doing
Example
寝る前に歯をみがきます
I brush my teeth before going to bed.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.