Before: ～まえに
Verb (dictionary) + まえに／N + の まえに
Verb (dictionary) + まえに / noun + の まえに = before doing, before. The verb before まえに stays in the present.
In short
Verb in the dictionary form + まえに = “before doing…”: ねる まえに、はを みがきます. With a noun, add の: しょくじの まえに (before the meal). The verb stays in the present even if the action is in the past.
- ねる まえに、本を 読みます。neru mae ni, hon o yomimasuBefore going to sleep, I read.
- ごはんの まえに、てを あらいます。gohan no mae ni, te o araimasuBefore the meal, I wash my hands.
- 日本へ 行く まえに、日本語を べんきょうしました。nihon e iku mae ni, nihongo o benkyō shimashitaBefore going to Japan, I studied Japanese.
The basics
Dictionary form + まえに = “before doing…”. With a noun: noun + の まえに = “before…”. The verb before まえに always stays in the present, even if the whole sentence is in the past.
- ねる まえに はを みがきます。neru mae ni ha o migakimasuI brush my teeth before going to bed.
- しょくじの まえに 手を あらいます。shokuji no mae ni te o araimasuI wash my hands before the meal.
Always the dictionary form
Even if the action is in the past, the verb before まえに stays in the dictionary form: the final verb carries the past.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 日本へ 来る まえに 日本語を べんきょうしました | I studied Japanese before coming to Japan |
| ねる まえに 本を 読みます | I read before going to sleep |
A length of time before
With a length of time, まえ (without の) means “ago”: 三年まえに 来ました (I came three years ago).
- 二年まえに 日本へ 来ました。ni-nen mae ni nihon e kimashitaI came to Japan two years ago.
Common mistakes
- Putting the verb in the past: “来た まえに” is wrong, it's 来る まえに.
- Forgetting の with a noun: しょくじの まえに, not しょくじ まえに.
- Using the ます-form: “ねます まえに” is wrong, it's ねる まえに.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Chūō Line (The plain form) of the Tokyo subway.