Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 8: 3/13

(まえ)Before, In front of

Structure

Verb + (まえ)
Noun + + (まえ)

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Case Marking Particle

  • Register

    Standard

About まえに

(まえ) is used when describing something that is either 'before something' (in time), or 'in front of something' (a location). It is used with verbs (in their non-past form), or nouns. When used with nouns, is required before (まえ).

Caution

Another similar construction to (まえ) is 手前(てまえ). (まえ) can be used for something that is in front of any location. However, 手前(てまえ) may only be used when things in front of you (or someone/something else) are being described physically.

Antonyms


Examples

--:--

    ()まえに「いただきます()う。

    Before eating we say 'いただきます'.

    (かえ)まえに勉強(べんきょう)する

    Before going home I will study.

    まえにここ()ました

    I've been here before.

    ()まえに()(あら)います

    I will wash my hands before I eat.

    テレビのまえに(つくえ)があります

    There is a desk in front of the TV.

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      まえに – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (11 in total)

      • Jake

        Jake

        • before
        • in front of

        Structure

        • Verb + 前・に
        • Noun + ・ 前・ に

        View on Bunpro

      • max99x

        max99x

        All the examples that use <noun> の 前に use it in the location rather than time sense. It can still be used in the time sense with nouns too, right? E.g. 昼ごはんの前に寝た . If so, would be nice to have an example or two of that included.

      • tuszek

        tuszek

        Should it not be a の between 買う前に for it to “become buy_ing_”?
        I understand that there is no need for it before 前に, but for nominalizing the verb. There are other such sentences in this lesson. So should it not be like that or, alternatively should it not translate rather to: “before i buy”

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        I don’t think that’s possible.

        Why do you want to nominalize it? Is it because of the English translation? But it’s not nominalized there either (the sentence is the conju...

      • FredKore

        FredKore

        Maybe the translation could be “before one buys” or “before you buy” (using the generic you not the specific you).
        But I agree that “before buying” sounds like a more natural translation.

      • Malox

        Malox

        Don’t know where to ask this but here I go:

        The grammar point uses this as the first example:
        病院の前にあるコンビニ
        There’s a convenience store in front of the hospital.

        The first half makes sense but I’m kinda confused why we can put ある directly after the に and follow it with a noun?
        病院の前に コンビニがある makes more sense to me.

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hi there!

        Both 病院の前にあるコンビニ, and 病院の前にコンビニがある are correct, but they have a slight difference in the nuance. 病院の前にあるコンビニ has the nuance of ‘The convenience store that exists in front of the hospital’ and 病院の前にコンビニがある has the nuance of ‘A convenience store exists in front of the hospital’. I hope that helps.

      • Malox

        Malox

        Yeah I think that helped, thanks!

      • dokidokiwakuwaku

        dokidokiwakuwaku

        Can someone elaborate on the distinction between this point and 手前? Thank you!

      • additionalramen

        additionalramen

        With the example 病院の前にあるコンビニ -

        How can you tell what’s in front of what? Like how do you know the convenience store is in front of the hospital and not the other way around?

      • casual

        casual

        (A)の前に just means in front of (A). So 病院の前に would be “in front of hospital”, and コンビニの前に would be “in front of convenience store”.

        And then the noun that A is in front of comes in through direct noun modification… mm not sure if there is a more specific point on bunpro, but let’s link this one: がある + Noun (JLPT N5) | Bunpro

        So, together (A)の前にある(B) means “(B), that exists in front of (A)”. You can’t mix them up.

        Hope this helps?

      • homa

        homa

        Ok folks, hear me out: お前の前にいるのは、千年以上生きた魔法使いだ

        If I want to add something one to the Bunpro, it is this sentence, so maybe something could be replaced)

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