avant de + Infinitive

Before Doing Something with Avant De

Level 3

avant de + infinitive = "before [verb]-ing"
Example: avant de partir (before leaving).

How It Works

The structure avant de + infinitive is the standard way to express a sequence of events involving the same person.

Key Rules:

  • The 'de' is mandatory: Unlike English where we say "before eating," French requires the preposition de. Saying "avant manger" is incorrect.
  • Elision: If the following verb starts with a vowel or a silent 'h', de becomes d' (e.g., avant d'entrer).
  • Same Subject: This pattern is only used when the subject of the main sentence is the same as the person performing the infinitive action. If the subjects are different, you must use avant que + subjunctive.
  • Pronoun Placement: If you use an object pronoun (like me, le, lui), it goes between de and the infinitive.

Examples (5)

  1. Il se lave les mains avant de manger.

    He washes his hands before eating.

    Word by Word: He himself washes the hands before of to eat.

    Notice how 'de' is placed before the infinitive 'manger'.

  2. Réfléchissez bien avant de répondre.

    Think carefully before answering.

    Word by Word: Think well before of to answer.

    In commands, 'avant de' is used to give advice on the sequence of actions.

  3. Je t'appelle avant d'arriver.

    I'll call you before arriving.

    Word by Word: I you call before of to arrive.

    Here, 'de' becomes 'd'' because 'arriver' starts with a vowel.

  4. Ferme la fenêtre avant de te coucher.

    Close the window before going to bed.

    Word by Word: Close the window before of yourself to sleep.

    The reflexive pronoun 'te' is placed between 'de' and the infinitive 'coucher'.

  5. Il faut finir tes devoirs avant de sortir.

    You must finish your homework before going out.

    Word by Word: It is necessary to finish your homework before of to go out.

    This combines the pattern with il faut.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the 'de' before the infinitive.

    Je lis avant dormir.
    Je lis avant de dormir.

    In French, 'avant' cannot be followed directly by a verb; the preposition 'de' is required to link them.

  • Using the present participle (-ant) instead of the infinitive.

    Avant mangeant, je me lave les mains.
    Avant de manger, je me lave les mains.

    While English uses the '-ing' form (eating), French prepositions (except 'en') always take the infinitive form.

  • Using 'avant de' when the subjects are different.

    Je pars avant de tu arrives.
    Je pars avant que tu n'arrives.

    If the person doing the first action is different from the person doing the second, you must use avant que.

How It Connects

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

avant de + InfinitiveLevel 3Before Doing Something with Avant De

Learn This First

To use 'avant de + infinitive', you must first understand the concept of an infinitive verb and how the preposition 'de' functions as a linker. It is also helpful to understand the 'avant que' construction, as 'avant de' is the standard way to avoid using the subjunctive when the subject of both actions is the same.

Words in This Pattern