Before means earlier than a particular time or event; in front of or in the presence of someone; in preference to or rather than something; or at a previous time. It functions as a preposition, a conjunction, and an adverb.
What Does Before Mean?
Before is one of the most frequently used words in English and appears from the very earliest stages of language learning. It carries a core meaning of earlier in time — "before the exam", "the night before" — but also expresses spatial position ("standing before the court") and preference ("truth before comfort").
The word has three distinct grammatical roles. As a preposition, it precedes a noun or noun phrase: before breakfast. As a conjunction, it introduces a subordinate clause with a verb: before you go. As an adverb, it stands alone to mean "previously": I have been here before. Recognising which role it plays in a sentence is essential for accurate comprehension and production at B1 and above.
Etymologically, before comes from Old English beforan, a compound of be- (by, near) and foran (in front, forward). The original meaning was entirely spatial — standing in front of — and the temporal sense developed during the Middle English period. The related form fore- still survives as a prefix in words such as foresee, foretell, and foreground.
Example Sentences by Level
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Wash your hands before dinner. | A2 | before as preposition + noun |
| Please read the instructions before you begin the exercise. | B1 | before as conjunction introducing a subordinate clause |
| She checked her notes one last time before presenting her findings to the team. | B1 | before + gerund phrase as subject of subordinate clause |
| The contract must be signed before the end of the financial year, or the deal will fall through. | B2 | before in a formal deadline context with conditional consequence |
| Never before had the committee faced a decision of such far-reaching consequence. | C1 | never before with subject-auxiliary inversion for emphatic effect |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| just before | She arrived just before the meeting started. |
| long before | He left long before anyone noticed. |
| shortly before | The fire broke out shortly before midnight. |
| the day before | I had packed my bag the day before. |
| the night before | She could not sleep the night before the exam. |
| never before | Never before had I seen such a crowd. |
| before long | Before long, the rain turned to snow. |
| before now | This problem should have been solved before now. |
| right before | He changed his mind right before the deadline. |
| before dawn | The farmers were already at work before dawn. |
Usage Notes
Three Grammatical Roles
Preposition: Before a noun phrase — "before lunch", "before the interview". No verb follows.
Conjunction: Before a clause with a finite verb — "before you leave", "before the results were announced". The subordinate verb uses the present simple (not will) when referring to future events in formal British English.
Adverb: Standing alone, meaning "previously" — "Have we met before?", "I have never done this before." No following noun or clause.
Idiomatic use: Before long is a fixed phrase meaning "soon" or "in a short time": "The results will be published before long." Do not confuse it with long before, which means "a long time earlier".
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I will call you before I will leave the office.
I will call you before I leave the office. (present simple in the subordinate clause, not will)
She finished her work before to go home.
She finished her work before going home. (before + gerund, not infinitive)
I have seen this movie before two years.
I saw this film two years ago. (use ago for time measured back from now, not before)