{{Grammar Box}} 

As well as talking about the [[Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"|past in general]], you can use 以前 (yǐqián) to talk about things that happened ''before'' a specific time.

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Time / Verb + 以前, ....

</div>

The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "''when'' the action was done").

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

* <strong>吃饭</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 洗 手 了 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Chīfàn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you wash your hands before eating? </span>
* <strong>睡觉</strong> <em>以前</em> ，不要 吃 东西。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shuìjiào</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, bùyào chī dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.</span>
* <strong>两 年</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 认识 他 吗？ <span class="pinyin"><strong>Liǎng nián </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,  nǐ rènshi tā ma? </span><span class="trans">Did you know him two years ago?</span>
* <strong>星期五</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 要 做 完 这些 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqīwǔ</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">You need to finish this work before Friday.</span>
* <strong>上 大学</strong> <em>以前</em>，你 来 过 上海 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shàng dàxué </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ lái guo shànghǎi ma?</span><span class="trans"> Before you went to college, did you ever come to Shanghai?</span>
* <strong>结婚</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 应该 先 买 房子。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jiéhūn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi.</span><span class="trans">Before getting married, you should first buy a house.</span>
* <strong>二十 年</strong> <em>以前</em>，这里 是 一 个 公园。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Èrshí nián</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,   zhèlǐ shì yī gè gōngyuán.</span><span class="trans">Twenty years ago, this was a park.</span>
* <strong>几 个 月</strong> <em>以前</em> ，他们 分手 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jǐ gè yuè </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,  tāmen fēnshǒu le.</span><span class="trans">They broke up a few months ago.</span>
* <strong>毕业</strong> <em>以前</em>，我 要 找到 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bìyè</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,  wǒ yào zhǎodào gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I need to find a job before graduation.</span>
* <strong>当 总统</strong> <em>以前</em>，Obama 没有 白 头发。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dāng zǒngtǒng</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, Obama méiyǒu bái tóufa.</span><span class="trans">Before he became the president, Obama didn't have white hair.</span>

</div>

Note that this use of 以前 (yǐqián) can also be shortened to 前 (qián).

==See also==
*[[After a specific time]]
*[[Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"]]
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]

== Sources and further reading ==
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 260-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 11-12) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Basic Grammar|以前|A2|Time / Verb + 以前|十 点 <em>以前</em>，我 在 家。|grammar point|ASGJ2OJC}}
{{Rel char|以}}
{{Rel char|前}}
{{Similar|After a specific time}} 
{{Similar|Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"}} 
{{Similar|Structure of times}}
{{Similar|After a specific time}}    
{{Similar|Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
{{POS|Nouns}}
{{Translation|before}}