before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
Engelska
~ 1600
Betydelser
0 betydelser
preposition
A1
relation
1
Earlier than something in time
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
Användningsmönster:
before [time/event/action]
Vanligt misstag:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
Synonymer
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonymer
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
Ordkombinationer
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
Teman
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel för inlärare
- 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.
Användningsmönster:
[event] before [event]
Vanligt misstag:
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
Synonymer
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
Antonymer
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
Ordkombinationer
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
Teman
time
|daily life
|communication
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel för inlärare
- 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.
Vanligt misstag:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
Synonymer
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
Antonymer
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
Ordkombinationer
long before
|never before
|seen before
Teman
time
|core_vocabulary
Exempel
- I have met him before.
- We spoke on the phone before.
- Never before had I felt so nervous.
- I’ve been here once before.
Exempel för inlärare
- 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.
Användningsmönster:
before [person/object]
Vanligt misstag:
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
Synonymer
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
Antonymer
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
Ordkombinationer
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
Teman
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel för inlärare
- 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.
Grammatik
Grundform
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
Stavelser och betoning
be - fore (2 stavelser)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
Ordformer
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
Ordfamilj
Uttryck
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel
- 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.
Exempel
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.