Before means earlier than; on its own, it means previously. We met briefly before the rehearsal. Check the address before you leave. Without anything after it, it means 'at an earlier time': I had seen that painting before.
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before + noun / before + subject + verb / before + -ing
- Check the address before you leave.
- We met briefly before the rehearsal.
- I had seen that painting before, but not in this gallery.
What changed
First versionCheck the address before to leave.
RevisionCheck the address before leaving.
Phrases like in order to leave and plan to leave put to before a verb, so before to leave seems fine. But before is a preposition, and the verb after it takes -ing: before leaving. The other option is a full clause: before you leave.
Ago counts back from now: two years ago. Before counts back from another moment in the past: I had moved there two years before. Before Friday means earlier than Friday, by Friday means no later than Friday, until Friday means the whole time up to Friday.
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Choose the action form: Wash your hands before ___ the ingredients.
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handling — Before is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing: before handling. To handle is the to pattern, which doesn't follow before.
Give a friend advice on what to do before a trip or a job interview. Use before with -ing.
Charge your phone before leaving for the airport.
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