HSK 2 grammar · pattern
以前/以后
…以前 / …以后 — before / after (a time or action)
Pattern
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( ) can be left out · other words may come before, between and after
How it works
以前 and 以后 come after a time word or action to mean "before …" and "after …". The whole time phrase sits at the front of the clause (optionally opened with 在); 前/后 are shorter variants.
Examples
睡觉以前，我喜欢看书。
Shuìjiào yǐqián, wǒ xǐhuan kàn shū.
Before sleeping, I like to read.
下课以后我们去吃饭。
Xiàkè yǐhòu wǒmen qù chī fàn.
After class we'll go eat.
三年以前，我不会说中文。
Sān nián yǐqián, wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
Three years ago I couldn't speak Chinese.
Related
See it in a story
In the app, 以前/以后 is underlined wherever it appears in the stories you read, and practised with sentences from them. Free.