/avɑ̃/
Translation
before, in front
Word origin
From Late Latin abante ('before, in front of'), from ab ('from') and ante ('before'). It means 'before' in time and 'in front' in space.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- abante
- English cognates
- advance, vanguard
Examples
- , ' .
Wash your hands before sitting down to eat, please.
.
We had to leave before ten to avoid the rain.
, ; .
Before, he used to live in the countryside; now he prefers the city.
, .
Above all, I would like to thank you sincerely.
L' l'.
The front of the car was broken in the accident.
fonctionne comme préposition (avant midi), adverbe (comme avant, deux jours avant) et dans la locution conjonctive avant que + subjonctif (avant qu'il parte). L'adverbe avant (previously, before) est très courant dans les récits pour marquer l'antériorité.
Ne pas confondre avec devant (in front of, physically), son quasi-synonyme spatial mais non temporel. Avant tout (above all, first and foremost) est une locution adverbiale fréquente dans les discours organisés. Ci-avant (above-mentioned) appartient à la langue juridique et administrative.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(10)Cuisiner ensemble
3 min read · Core 1000
Le dernier train de la nuit
3 min read · Core 1000
Le jour du travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Mathieu revient en ville
4 min read · Core 1000
Un ancien ami
4 min read · Core 5000
Un voyage difficile
4 min read · Core 1000
Une rencontre au marché
4 min read · Core 1000
La seule qui puisse
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(21)French Advanced Grammar (C1-C2): The Constructions That Sound Native
Comparing French Adverbs: plus vite, le mieux, and the Irregulars
French Grammar Cheatsheet: The Essentials, One Page
French Comparatives: plus, moins, aussi and the Three Irregulars
The French Conditional Perfect: j'aurais fait, elle serait venue
French Verb Conjugation: The Complete Rules with Examples
Reported Speech in French: Tense Backshift (dit que, a dit que)
The French Future Perfect: futur antérieur
quand + Future: The Tense English Refuses
French Imparfait: One Stem, One Set of Endings, One Irregular
Infinitive or Subjunctive: The French Same-Subject Rule
French Intermediate Grammar (B1-B2): The Things That Stop You at the Plateau
The French Present Participle and Gerund (le participe présent et le gérondif)
Sequencing French Past Tenses: Passé Composé, Imparfait and Plus-que-parfait Together
French Prepositions: à, de, en, dans, sur, chez and the Mandatory Contractions
The French Subjunctive After Conjunctions
The French Subjunctive After Doubt, Emotion and Opinion
The French Subjunctive After Superlatives and Exclusives
The French Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
The French Past Subjunctive: subjonctif passé
Subjunctive or Indicative: How to Choose in French
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avant: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "avant" (before, in front): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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