Elementary School - Grade 5
Lesson 5: Before an Action
-기 전에
Expressing Sequence: "Before"
We just learned `-고` for "and then." Now let's learn how to talk about what happens *before* something else.
The pattern **-기 전에** attaches to a verb and means "before (doing that verb)." It's a fantastic way to link your actions in a logical order.
The Rule: Just Add -기 전에
This is another beautifully simple rule. It doesn't matter if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant. Just drop `다` and add `-기 전에`.
To eat
먹다 먹-
-기 전에
먹기 전에
"Before eating"
To sleep
자다 자-
-기 전에
자기 전에
"Before sleeping"
Examples in Action
Notice how the main action of the sentence comes *after* the `-기 전에` clause.
밥을 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요.
Before eating, I wash my hands.
자기 전에 책을 읽어요.
Before sleeping, I read a book.
학교에 가기 전에 아침을 먹었어요.
I ate breakfast before going to school.
Coming Up Next...
You've mastered "before"! The next logical step is to learn how to say "after..."