This pattern means 'before a certain period of time' or 'before some action', and corresponds to 'before', 'ago' in English. It is used in the forms 'Time 전에', 'Noun 전에' and 'Verb -기 전에' in a sentence.

'Noun 전에' is used mainly with nouns to which 하다 can be added to make verbs. For this reason, -기 전에 can be added to the corresponding verb stem to produce the same meaning (식사 전에, 식사하기 전에). However, for all verbs other than 하다 verbs, only -기 전에 can be used.

Details

What's the difference between the expressions 1 시 전에 and 1 시간 전에?

1 시 전에 오세요.

(It means the person can come any time before 1:00, such as 12:50,12:00, or even 11:00.)

1 시간 전에 오세요.

(It means the person should come exactly one hour before some previously stated time. For example, if there is a meeting scheduled for 3:00, then the person should come at 2:00.)

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Used to say before a certain time or before an action

Details

Usage with verbs

Can also be used with verbs in the form of 기 전에

수영하기 전에 준비운동을 해요.

I do warm-up exercises before swimming.

식사하기 전에 손을 씻어요.

I wash my hands before eating.

N 전에, V-기 전에

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Usage with verbs