prije nego što

Before and After a Clause

Level 4

Before and after a whole clause.

How It Works

To use before or after with a noun, you use prije and poslije. With a whole clause (a verb and its subject), you need a longer phrase.

meaningphraseexample
beforeprije nego štoPrije nego što uđeš, očisti cipele.
afternakon štoNakon što sam pojeo, otišao sam.

When the clause comes first, put a comma after it. When it comes last, no comma is needed.

For things that have not happened yet, use a present verb after prije nego što, usually a perfective one: Prije nego što odem, nazvat ću te. The future is only in the main clause.

Do not add ne to the verb after prije nego što: say Prije nego što odem, not Prije nego što ne odem.

Examples (4)

  1. Operi ruke prije nego što jedeš.

    Wash your hands before you eat.

    Prije nego što starts the clause.

  2. Prije nego što počne kiša, idemo kući.

    Before the rain starts, we are going home.

    The verb is in the present.

  3. Nakon što je pojeo, Haris je otišao.

    After he ate, Haris left.

    Nakon što works with the perfect.

  4. Nazovi me nakon što stigneš.

    Call me after you arrive.

    Nakon što stigneš is the time clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Missing nego.

    Operi ruke prije što jedeš.
    Operi ruke prije nego što jedeš.

    Prije nego što is a fixed phrase.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

prije nego štoLevel 4Before and After a Clause

Learn This First

Before-clauses.

Words in This Pattern

prijenakonštonego