before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
Engleză
~ 1600
Sensuri
0 sensuri
preposition
A1
relation
1
Earlier than something in time
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
Tipar de utilizare:
before [time/event/action]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
Sinonime
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonime
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
Colocații
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
Teme
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Tipar de utilizare:
[event] before [event]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
Sinonime
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
Antonime
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
Colocații
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
Teme
time
|daily life
|communication
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
Sinonime
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
Antonime
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
Colocații
long before
|never before
|seen before
Teme
time
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- I have met him before.
- We spoke on the phone before.
- Never before had I felt so nervous.
- I’ve been here once before.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Tipar de utilizare:
before [person/object]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
Sinonime
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
Antonime
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
Colocații
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
Teme
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- 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.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
Silabe și accent
be - fore (2 silabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
Forme ale cuvântului
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
Familie de cuvinte
Expresii
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple
- 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.
Exemple
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.