before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
Αγγλικά
~ 1600
Σημασίες
0 σημασίες
preposition
A1
relation
1
Earlier than something in time
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
before [time/event/action]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
Συνώνυμα
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Αντώνυμα
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
Θέματα
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- We need to finish this before noon.
- She called me before the party started.
- I always stretch before running.
- He left the office before the boss arrived.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- I brush my teeth before bed.
- Wash your hands before eating.
- I drink coffee before work.
- He studies before the exam.
conjunction
A2
relation
2
Earlier than another event
Used to say one thing happens earlier than another thing.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
[event] before [event]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
Συνώνυμα
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
Αντώνυμα
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
Θέματα
time
|daily life
|communication
Παραδείγματα
- Think carefully before you decide.
- I had never seen her before I came here.
- Turn off the lights before you leave.
- He knocked before entering the room.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Look both ways before you cross the road.
- Finish your homework before you play games.
- Call me before you come.
adverb
A2
relation
3
At an earlier time
At a time earlier than now or another time mentioned.
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
Συνώνυμα
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
Αντώνυμα
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
long before
|never before
|seen before
Θέματα
time
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- I have met him before.
- We spoke on the phone before.
- Never before had I felt so nervous.
- I’ve been here once before.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- I saw this movie before.
- She was here before.
- I ate there before.
- We met before.
preposition
B1
relation
4
Ahead in position or order
In front of something or someone, or ahead in a list or order.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
before [person/object]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
Συνώνυμα
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
Αντώνυμα
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
Θέματα
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- He stood nervously before the audience.
- The number 3 comes before 4.
- She appeared before the committee.
- There were two people ahead of me, but I was before them in the list.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- The dog is before the house.
- B comes before C in the alphabet.
- He stood before me in line.
- The man is standing before the door.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
be - fore (2 συλλαβές)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
Τύποι λέξης
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
Οικογένεια λέξεων
Εκφράσεις
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
Παραδείγματα
- The building collapsed right before our eyes.
- Before my eyes, the caterpillar became a butterfly.
think before you speak
1/θˈɪŋk bɪfˈɔɹ jˈu spˈik/
fixed phrase
Consider words before speaking
To stop and think about what you will say so you do not hurt or upset someone.
Παραδείγματα
- You should think before you speak to avoid hurting feelings.
- He never thinks before he speaks and often regrets it.
before long
1/bɪfˈɔɹ lˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
Soon; in a short time from now
Not much time will pass before something happens.
Παραδείγματα
- Before long, she will be running her own company.
- You’ll hear from them before long.
before long
2/bɪfˈɔɹ lˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
Soon after now or then
In a short time from now or from a mentioned time.
Παραδείγματα
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.