before
gb/bɪfˈɔɹ/ us/bɪfˈɔɹ/
A1
Anh
~ 1600
Các nghĩa
0 nghĩa
preposition
A1
relation
1
Earlier than something in time
Happening earlier than a certain time or event.
Mẫu sử dụng:
before [time/event/action]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'ago'; 'before' compares two times, while 'ago' counts backwards from now.
Từ đồng nghĩa
prior to (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Từ trái nghĩa
after (Refers to something happening later in time.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
before dawn
|before the meeting
|before lunch
|before bedtime
Chủ đề
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- 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.
Mẫu sử dụng:
[event] before [event]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners sometimes omit the subject after 'before' when it is required in formal writing.
Từ đồng nghĩa
prior to when (Less common and more formal phrasing.)
Từ trái nghĩa
after (Used when one action happens later than another.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
check before you buy
|think before you speak
|wash before you cook
Chủ đề
time
|daily life
|communication
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- 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.
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners sometimes confuse 'before' with 'already'; 'already' suggests completion, while 'before' indicates prior occurrence relative to a reference point.
Từ đồng nghĩa
previously (Slightly more formal; common in writing.)
Từ trái nghĩa
afterwards (Refers to a later point in time.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
long before
|never before
|seen before
Chủ đề
time
|core_vocabulary
Ví dụ
- I have met him before.
- We spoke on the phone before.
- Never before had I felt so nervous.
- I’ve been here once before.
Ví dụ cho người học
- 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.
Mẫu sử dụng:
before [person/object]
Lỗi thường gặp:
Learners often use 'before' for physical location where 'in front of' is more natural in casual speech.
Từ đồng nghĩa
in front of ('In front of' is more common for physical space; 'before' can be more formal or literary.)
Từ trái nghĩa
behind (Indicates a position to the rear of something.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
stand before the judge
|before my eyes
|line up before the door
Chủ đề
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- 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.
Ngữ pháp
Dạng từ điển
before
IPA
GB/bɪfˈɔɹ/
US/bɪfˈɔɹ/
Âm tiết và trọng âm
be - fore (2 âm tiết)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fore)
Các dạng từ
Noun
- Base: before
- Plural: befores
Họ từ
Cách diễn đạt
before someone's eyes
1/bɪfˈɔɹ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Directly visible to someone
Happening where someone can see it clearly.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- Before long, we were good friends.
- The train will arrive before long.