hanamaru
Say "before" doing something
Add 前に after a dictionary-form verb or a noun plus の to say 'before' that action or time.
JLPTN5
verb (dictionary form) / noun の + 前に~ (dictionary form) / noun no mae ni
before doing ~ / before [noun]
Example Sentence
Let's wash hands before the meal
前 means 'before' and the particle に anchors it to a point in time. A verb in front of 前に always stays in its plain dictionary (non-past) form even when the overall sentence is about the past. With a noun, link it using の before 前に. This pairs naturally with あとで, which marks what happens after.
Tips and Common Traps
Hana· Key point
前に is perfect for routines and instructions — 寝る前に歯を磨きます (I brush my teeth before sleeping). You'll find yourself using it every day.
Maru· Common trap
The verb before 前に never changes to past tense — always use the dictionary form. 食べた前に is wrong; say 食べる前に even when describing something that already happened.