Japanese Learning (A5 S18): Describing Action that you do BEFORE doing Something; [V1-dic] Mae ni, [ V2 ]

At A2 in Section 16, we learned an expression that says two actions happening in turn.

1. [V1-te] + kara, [V2].

Note that V1 is in T-form, and V1 happens first, and then V2 second.

Today’s construction is also to describe two actions happening in turn.

2. [V1-dic]+ Mae ni, [V2].

As for 2, V1 is in Dictionary form, and V2 happens first, and then V1 second.

When you eat something, you wash your hands before eating. I hope you do so. Let me express this in constructions 1 and 2.

(1) Te o Aratte kara, Gohan o Tabemasu. (After I wash my hands, I eat.)

(2) Gohan o Taberu Mae ni, Te o Araimasu. (Before I eat, I wash my hands.)

We are learning (2) today. Take a look at several examples for the construction 2.

– Neru Mae ni, Ha o Migakimasu. (Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.)

– Gakkou ni Iku Mae ni, Kyoukasho o Kaban ni Iremasu. (Before going to the school, I put textbooks into my bag.)

– Osake o Nomu Mae ni, Minna de Kampai o Shimasu. (Before drinking Sake, we all raise a toast.)

Probably you have noticed that the subject doesn’t appear these sentences. In such case, assume the subject is “Watashi wa”. Sometimes it’s not “Watashi wa”, but usually is.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2^nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”