Before a specific time with "yiqian"

As well as talking about the past in general, you can use 以前 to talk about things that happened before a specific time. The structure for this is:

Structure

Time + 以前， Subject + Verb + Object

The time can be a specific time, or an action.

Examples

• 上 大学 以前，我 不 会 写 论文。
• 三点 以前，我 在 咖啡店。
• 睡觉 以前，你 不 能 吃 糖。
• 结婚 以前，我 很 自由。

See also

• After a specific time
• "Before" in general
• Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"

Sources and further reading

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 260-1) →buy