before

at an earlier time than a specified event or period of time

antes de que, antes

• do something before you do something else

Collocations before breakfast · before lunch

• I need to finish this report before I go home.

  Necesito terminar este informe antes de irme a casa.

in the order of importance or preference

antes que, preferir

• A is more important than B before C

Collocations before anything else · before all others

• Safety comes before everything.

  La seguridad es lo primero.

in front of or ahead of someone or something

delante de, frente a

• stand before sb

Collocations before the altar · before the mirror

• She stood before the judge.

  Ella se paró frente al juez.

used to refer to a time in the past, especially when talking about something that happened before another event or period of time

antes de que, en el pasado

• I had never seen it before.

• She hadn't met him before.

  Ella no lo había conocido antes.

used to introduce a condition or requirement that must be fulfilled for something to happen

antes de que, con la condición de que

• You can leave before you finish the work.

• We'll start after we've had a coffee, before lunch.

  Empezaremos después de tomar un café, antes del almuerzo.

used to express preference or choice

prefiere, en lugar de

• A is better before B

• I prefer coffee before tea.

  Prefiero el café antes que el té.

used to introduce a clause that is the subject or object of another clause

antes de que, en lugar de

• It's better before it happens.

• She was worried before she knew the truth.

  Ella estaba preocupada antes de saber la verdad.

used in past perfect tense to indicate an action that happened before another past event

antes de que, en el pasado

• had done something before

• She had left before I arrived.

  Ella se había ido antes de que yo llegara.