Time / Verb + 以前 (before …) · 时间 / 动词 + 以前
A deadline comes before a named time
- You ask a friend to return before three o'clock.
- 三点以前回来。 — The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
A deadline comes before a named time
- You ask a friend to return before three o'clock.
- 三点before以前to return回来。 — The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
You ask a friend to return before three o'clock. What does 三点以前回来。 communicate?
The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary. 以前 follows its reference time or action. 睡觉以前刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Time / Verb + 以前 (before …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
three o'clock三点before以前come back回来。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Time / Verb + before以前 (before …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
three o'clock三点before以前come back回来。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Come back before three: 三点 ____ 回来。
Time + 以前 = before that time: 三点以前 (before 3).
Read examples in context
sleep睡觉before以前brush teeth刷牙。
- In the opening example, 三点以前回来。: The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
sleep睡觉before以前brush teeth刷牙。
- In the opening example, 三点before以前to return回来。: The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Where does 以前 go?
以前 follows the time/verb — opposite order to English: 三点以前.
Build: “Come back before three.”
Time + 以前 + Verb: 三点 + 以前 + 回来.
Know the boundary
- 以前 follows its reference time or action.
- 睡觉以前刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration.
Know the boundary
- before以前 follows its reference time or action.
- to go to bed睡觉before以前to brush one's teeth刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration.
以前 also attaches to a verb: 睡觉以前 (before sleeping).
Yes: 吃饭以前 (before eating), 睡觉以前 (before bed).
In the opening situation: The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
以前 follows its reference time or action. 睡觉以前刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration. The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
Use the distinction
- The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
- 以前 follows its reference time or action. 睡觉以前刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Nouns.
Use the distinction
- The return should happen before the stated three-o'clock boundary.
- before以前 follows its reference time or action. to go to bed睡觉before以前to brush one's teeth刷牙 places brushing before sleeping, not after it; separate a deadline from a duration.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Nouns.