Japanese Conjunctions: Before (前)

The basic structure we use to say “before” is:

【Subsequent Action】前まえに【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.

仕事しごとに行いく前まえに、コーヒーを飲のむ。

Before I go to work I will drink coffee.

仕事しごとに行いく前まえに、コーヒーを飲のんだ。

Before I went to work I drank coffee.

As a native English speaker there is an innate desire to say:

仕事しごとに行いった前まえに、コーヒーを飲のんだ。(✘)

Unfortunately, this is not correct.

家いえを出掛でかける前まえに、電気でんきを消けします。

Turn off the lights before leaving the house.

道路どうろを渡わたる前まえに、左右さゆうを確認かくにんします。

Look left and right before crossing the street.

暗くらくなる前まえに、帰かえってきてください。

Please come back home before it gets dark.

For nouns we need to use the possessive particle, の.

必かならず午前ごぜん９時じの前まえに電話でんわしてください。

Please make sure you call before 9am.

説明会せつめいかいの前まえに、受付うけつけで自分じぶんの名前なまえを登録とうろくしてください。

Before the seminar please register your name at the reception.