V辞書形＋前に (V(jisho) + mae ni) — before doing V
Before an action happens.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
- "Before eating, I wash my hands" — to say "before doing", use the verb's 辞書形 + 前に: 食べる前に (before eating).
- 前 (まえ) = before; the same word as いえの前 (in front of the house) in Lesson 10, now for time.
Watch out
- Even if the main sentence is in the past, the verb before 前に always stays in 辞書形 (食べた前に ❌).
- The logic is neat: at the "before" moment that action has not happened yet.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
ごはんを食べる前に、手をあらいます。
ごはんをたべるまえに、てをあらいます。
Before eating, I wash my hands.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) ごはんを ──> 食べる (辞書形, unchanged) ──> [ + 前に ] ──> 食べる前に (before eating) ──> [ + 手をあらいます ] ──> Before eating, I wash my hands.
ねる前に、はをみがきます。
ねるまえに、はをみがきます。
Before going to bed, I brush my teeth.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) ねる (辞書形) ──> [ + 前に ] ──> ねる前に (before going to bed) ──> [ + はをみがきます ] ──> Before going to bed, I brush my teeth.
日本へ行く前に、日本語をべんきょうします。
にほんへいくまえに、にほんごをべんきょうします。
Before going to Japan, I study Japanese.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 日本へ ──> 行く (辞書形) ──> [ + 前に ] ──> 行く前に (before going) ──> [ + 日本語をべんきょうします ] ──> Before going to Japan, I study Japanese.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「Before eating, I wash my hands」— which is correct?
💡 Hint: Dictionary form before 前.
The verb before 前に is always in dictionary form: 食べる前に.
「日本へ___前に、日本語をべんきょうします」— which fills the blank?
💡 Hint: Needs dictionary form.
V(dict) + 前に: 行く前に. The ます / た / て forms are wrong.
「Before sleeping, I brush my teeth」— which is correct?
💡 Hint: ねる + 前に.
ねる (dictionary form) + 前に. 前 is followed by に, not が.
Your score: /3