перш чым
Before with Перш Чым
Падумай, перш чым адказаць. (Think before you answer.) Перш чым is followed by a verb, not a noun.
How It Works
Same subject: infinitive. The infinitive is usually perfective, since it is one completed action:
- Падумай, перш чым адказаць. (Think before you answer.)
- Мыйце рукі, перш чым сесці за стол. (Wash your hands before sitting down to eat.)
Different subject: full clause. Give the clause its own subject and a real tense. For something still to come, use the future:
- Перш чым ён прыйшоў, мы ўсё падрыхтавалі. (Before he came, we had prepared everything.)
- Трэба прыбраць, перш чым прыйдуць госці. (We need to tidy up before the guests arrive.)
Commas. The clause is set off with a comma, and перш чым is not split: Перш чым пайсці спаць, я чытаю кнігу.
Similar words. Перад тым як and да таго як also mean before and take a full clause. Before a noun, use the preposition перад with the instrumental: перад сняданкам (before breakfast). See перад. For the opposite order, see пасля таго як.
Перш on its own means first, earlier: Перш за ўсё (first of all). It cannot introduce a verb without чым.
Examples (6)
- Падумай, перш чым адказаць.
Think before you answer.
Word by Word: Think, before than to-answer.
- Перш чым пайсці спаць, я чытаю кнігу.
Before going to bed, I read a book.
Word by Word: Before than to-go to-sleep, I read book.
- Мыйце рукі, перш чым сесці за стол.
Wash your hands before sitting down to eat.
Word by Word: Wash hands, before than to-sit at table.
- Перш чым ён прыйшоў, мы ўсё падрыхтавалі.
Before he came, we had prepared everything.
Word by Word: Before than he came, we all prepared.
- Трэба прыбраць, перш чым прыйдуць госці.
We need to tidy up before the guests arrive.
Word by Word: Necessary to-tidy, before than will-come guests.
- Ён доўга думаў, перш чым сказаць «так».
He thought for a long time before saying yes.
Word by Word: He long thought, before than to-say "yes".
Common Mistakes
Using the preposition перад directly with an infinitive.
Падумай перад адказаць.Падумай, перш чым адказаць.Перад is a preposition and needs a noun in the instrumental (перад адказам). Before a verb, use перш чым.
Using an infinitive with a different subject.
Трэба прыбраць, перш чым госці прыйсці.Трэба прыбраць, перш чым прыйдуць госці.An infinitive cannot have its own subject. When someone else does the action, use a full verb that agrees with them.
Using the past tense for a future event.
Трэба прыбраць, перш чым прыйшлі госці.Трэба прыбраць, перш чым прыйдуць госці.The guests have not come yet, so the clause takes the future. The past would mean they have already arrived.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Перш чым builds on time clauses; same-subject infinitives are usually perfective, while other subjects take a full clause.
Related Patterns
- пасля таго якAfter with Пасля Таго Як
The opposite order: after something happens.
Level 4 - пакульWhile and Until with Пакуль
Пакуль не (until) is another way to mark the point before which something happens.
Level 3 - за / пад / над / перад + InstrumentalPosition with За, Пад, Над and Перад
Перад with a noun means before in time or in front of.
Level 3 - Perfective Aspect
The infinitive after перш чым is usually perfective.
Level 2 - Commas in Complex Sentences
Comma placement with compound conjunctions.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice перш чым in Bubblegum
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