HSK 3 HSK V2
Correct

以前

/ yǐ qián  /
Strokes

Collocation

1
七点以前
2
上课以前
3
来中国以前
4
学汉语以前
5
来这儿以前
6
五年以前
7
三个月以前
8
以前的学校
9
以前的生活
10
以前的同事

Definition

以前: as Noun, means [before, previous, ago],

1. 以前, refer to the future when used after a time point or time period

1)七点以前,他们就走了。

2)来中国以前,我一句汉语也不会说。

3)回国以前,我有很多事儿要办。(指将来,说话时还没有回国。)

 

2. 以前, used alone, as an Adverbial, (it must be used in combination with sentences.)

1)以前,我是公司职员,现在我是留学生。

 

3. 以前 used between the subject and the predicate, as Adverbial

1)我以前去过中国两次。

 

4. 以前, as Attributive

1)以前的马路不太宽。

2)以前的房子不太好。
 

Example

以前, as Adverbial (used alone)
1
qián
以前
  
,
guò
zhōngguó
中国
liǎng
  
  
HSK3
HSK3
  

I have been to China twice before.

2
qián
以前
  
,
shì
gōng
公司
zhíyuán
职员
  
,
xiànzài
现在
shì
liúxuéshēng
留学生
  

Before, I was a clerk in a company. Now I am an international student.

以前, as attributive
3
qián
以前
de
马路
tài
kuān
  

The previous road was not very wide.

4
qián
以前
de
fángzi
房子
tài
hǎo
  

The previous house was not so good.

以前, as Attributives
5
diǎn
qián
以前
  
,
men
他们
jiù
zǒu
le
  

They left before seven o 'clock.

6
Shuìjiào
睡觉
qián
以前
yào
不要
fēi
咖啡
  

Don't drink coffee before going to bed.

7
Lái
zhōngguó
中国
qián
以前
  
,
gōu
hàn
汉语
huì
不会
shuō
  

Before I came to China, I couldn't speak a word of Chinese.

8
Huíguó
回国
qián
以前
  
,
yǒu
hěnduō
很多
shìr  
事儿
yào
bàn
  

I have a lot of things to do before I return home.

9
Lái
zhèr
这儿
qián  
以前
  
,
shì
tóngshì
同事
  

He and I were colleagues before we came here.