Basic Details
Word: Before
Part of Speech: Preposition
Meaning: Earlier than a particular time or event; it can also mean in front of someone or something.
Synonyms: earlier than, prior to, ahead of
Antonyms: after, later than
How to Spell Before
Syllables: be - fore
Tricky part: The word ends in fore with a final e, not for or four. The first part is be, never bi.
Watch out for: befor, bifore, befour
Memory tip: Before is be + fore. Picture standing at the fore, the very front of the queue, which is where you are when you go before everyone else.
Idioms and Phrases
- before long: soon; after only a short time. Example: "Keep practising the tabla every evening and before long you will play the whole piece without stopping."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Wash your hands before you sit down to eat.
Example 2: We reached the station ten minutes before the Rajdhani Express left.
Example 3: I had never seen snow before our trip to Manali.
Fun Fact
In dates, BC stands for Before Christ. There is no year zero in this system: the year 1 BC is followed directly by AD 1.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. guarentee 2. tommorrow 3. calander 4. before
a) a firm promise that something will happen
b) the day after today
c) earlier than a particular time or event
d) a chart showing the days, weeks and months of a year
Show answer
c) earlier than a particular time or event. Tomorrow has one m, calendar ends in -ar and guarantee has ua after the g, which leaves before.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to before as used in the sentence:
Please submit the admission form before the last date, or your seat will go to someone on the waiting list.
a) after
b) earlier than
c) prior to
d) ahead of
Show answer
a) after. Before points to an earlier time and after to a later one; prior to, ahead of and earlier than are only longer ways of saying before.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The guests had gone home long obrefe the rain began.
a) before
b) befall
c) beware
d) bereft
Show answer
a) before. The six letters b, e, f, o, r, e rebuild only before, and 'long before the rain began' reads naturally.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
b_f_r_
a) e, o, e
b) e, o, a
c) e, u, e
d) i, o, e
Show answer
a) e, o, e. Say it slowly, be-fore: the e of be, then the o and the silent final e of fore.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In 'I have seen this film before', the word before means ____.
a) never
b) at an earlier time
c) in front of me
d) after this
Show answer
b) at an earlier time
2. The fore- at the end of before carries the idea of 'earlier'. Which word uses fore- in the same way?
a) forest
b) forecast
c) forget
d) fortune
Show answer
b) forecast
