Translation
before, in front
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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
.
I have a coffee before work.
.
We're leaving before ten.
- , .
Wash your hands before sitting down to eat, please.
, ; .
Before, he used to live in the countryside; now he prefers the city.
.
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
(18)Le mariage de Chloé
3 min read · Core 5000
Le premier jour de travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Voyage au Maroc, quelle catastrophe !
3 min read · Core 5000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 5000
Le café du quartier
4 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Un ancien ami
4 min read · Core 5000
Adieu, madame Rochat
5 min read · Core 5000
C'est plus logique
5 min read · Core 5000
Ce qu'il a dit
5 min read · Core 5000
En rentrant chez elle
5 min read · Core 5000
Le couscous de Marco
5 min read · Core 5000
Le détective
5 min read · Core 5000
Même pas à moi
5 min read · Core 5000
On dîne chez Laurie
5 min read · Core 5000
Paper Walls
5 min read · Core 5000
Pas un mot avant dimanche
5 min read · Core 5000
Vingt minutes dans le noir
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(22)Advanced French Grammar (C1-C2): Constructions to Master
French Adverb Comparison: plus vite, le plus vite, le mieux
French Grammar Cheat Sheet: The Essentials on One Page
French Comparatives: plus, moins, aussi, meilleur, mieux
French Conditional Tense (Conditionnel): Endings and Uses
Conditionnel Passé: The French Conditional Perfect
French Conjugation: Tables for Every Tense and Group
Reported Speech in French: Tense Changes and Examples
Futur Antérieur in French: The Future Perfect Tense
Future Tense After quand in French: lorsque, dès que
French Indefinite Adjectives: chaque, plusieurs, tout, autre
French Infinitive or Subjunctive? The Same-Subject Rule
Intermediate French Grammar (B1-B2): What Breaks the Plateau
French Gérondif and Present Participle: en + -ant Rules
French Past Participle Agreement: être, avoir and se
French Perfect Infinitive: après avoir fini, être parti
French Subjunctive After Conjunctions: The Full List
French Imperfect Subjunctive (Subjonctif Imparfait): Recognise It
French Subjunctive in Relative Clauses, with Examples
French Past Subjunctive (Subjonctif Passé): Forms and Uses
French Subjunctive vs Indicative: How to Choose
French Time Expressions: depuis, pendant, il y a and pour
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French · Free printables
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.
This word is taught in chapter 4, lesson 3: avant, mort, désolé and 7 more words.