| 词组 | before |
| 释义 | before ◊ indicating time If something happens before a time or event, it happens earlier than that time or event. We arrived just before two o'clock. It was just before Christmas. Before the First World War, farmers used to use horses instead of tractors. You also use before when you are talking about the past and you want to refer to an earlier period of time. For example, if you are describing events that took place in 1986, you refer to 1985 as 'the year before'. The two had met in Bonn the weekend before. The quarrel of the night before seemed forgotten. You use before last to refer to a period of time that came before the last one of its kind. For example, if today is Wednesday 18th September, you refer to Friday 13th September as 'last Friday', and Friday 6th September as 'the Friday before last'. We met them on a camping holiday the year before last. 'When did he arrive?' ---'The afternoon before last.' ◊ indicating position Before is sometimes used to mean 'in front of'. This is a formal or old-fashioned use. He stood before the panelled door leading to the cellar. The tea had been set before them. When someone has to appear in a court of law, you can say that they are brought before the judge or magistrate. All three had been taken before a magistrate. When a proposal is being considered by a parliament, you can say that it is before the parliament. ...the Legal Services Bill now before Parliament. You also use before or in front of when you are talking about the order in which things appear in speech or writing. For example, if you are describing the spelling of the word 'friend', you can say that the letter 'i' comes before or in front of the letter 'e'. If the verb is 'be', 'certainly' can come either before or after the verb. You can put 'both' immediately in front of a single noun group when it refers to two people or things. |
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