The basic structure we use to say “before” is:
【Subsequent Action】前に【Prior Action】
Both the subsequent and prior actions will be independent clauses and thus end, like all sentences, in a verb. The verb for the subsequent action must be the present tense dictionary form. This is a little confusing for English-speakers because in English we put each clause in the tense corresponding to the timing of the action relative to the present. In other words, we would say:
Before I went to work I bought some cigarettes.
In Japanese, however, the tense of the first clause is independent from the tense of the latter.
| 仕事に行く前に、コーヒーを飲む。 |
| Before I go to work I will drink coffee. |
| 仕事に行く前に、コーヒーを飲んだ。 |
| Before I went to work I drank coffee. |
As a native English speaker there is an innate desire to say:
| 仕事に行った前に、コーヒーを飲んだ。(✘) |
Unfortunately, this is not correct.
| 家を出掛ける前に、電気を消します。 |
| Turn off the lights before leaving the house. |
| 道路を渡たる前に、左右を確認します。 |
| Look left and right before crossing the street. |
| 暗くなる前に、帰ってきてください。 |
| Please come back home before it gets dark. |
For nouns we need to use the possessive particle, の.
| 必ず午前９時の前に電話してください。 |
| Please make sure you call before 9am. |
| 説明会の前に、受付で自分の名前を登録してください。 |
| Before the seminar please register your name at the reception. |