prieš tai, kai
Before with Prieš Tai, Kai
To say before + a clause with a verb, use prieš tai, kai: Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai. (Before I left, I called my mom.)
How It Works
1. Building it. Prieš tai literally means before that, and kai (when) opens the clause:
- Prieš tai, kai atvykau į Lietuvą, nemokėjau lietuviškai. (Before I came to Lithuania, I couldn't speak Lithuanian.)
- Paskambink man prieš tai, kai išeisi. (Call me before you leave.)
2. Commas. The clause is always separated from the rest of the sentence. When it comes first, a comma follows it: Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai. When it comes second, the usual comma sits before kai: Paskambinau mamai prieš tai, kai išvažiavau. See Commas Before Subordinate Clauses.
3. The time of the verb. Like kai, this clause can use past or future forms to locate its event. English says before you leave with a present verb, but Lithuanian uses the future: prieš tai, kai išeisi.
4. Shorter ways. With a noun, just use prieš: prieš kelionę (before the trip), prieš išvykimą (before leaving). A verbal noun like išvykimas makes this easy. Prieš tai can also stand alone and mean before that: Išjungiau kompiuterį. Prieš tai išsaugojau darbą. (I switched off the computer. Before that, I saved my work.)
5. Related words. For after, use po to, kai: Po to, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai. (After I left, I called my mom.) To say before something happens as a deadline, Lithuanian often uses kol with a negative verb: Grįžk, kol nesutemo. (Come back before it gets dark.)
Examples (6)
- Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai.
Before I left, I called my mom.
The clause comes first, so a comma follows it.
- Nusiplauk rankas prieš tai, kai sėsi prie stalo.
Wash your hands before you sit down at the table.
The future sėsi is used for an event that has not happened yet.
- Prieš tai, kai atvykau į Lietuvą, nemokėjau nė žodžio lietuviškai.
Before I came to Lithuania, I didn't know a single word of Lithuanian.
A past event takes the past tense.
- Prieš tai, kai pradėsime, noriu visiems padėkoti.
Before we begin, I want to thank everyone.
Pradėsime is future: we have not begun yet.
- Jis išėjo dar prieš tai, kai prasidėjo lietus.
He left even before the rain started.
Dar adds the idea of even earlier.
- Išjungiau kompiuterį. Prieš tai išsaugojau darbą.
I switched off the computer. Before that, I saved my work.
Prieš tai on its own means before that.
Common Mistakes
Using prieš alone before a clause.
Prieš kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai.Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai.Prieš kai is not the pattern taught here. Use prieš tai, kai before this finite clause.
Leaving out the comma after the clause.
Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau paskambinau mamai.Prieš tai, kai išvažiavau, paskambinau mamai.When the clause comes first, a comma separates it from the main clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Prieš tai, kai places one event before the event in a finite clause.
Related Patterns
- po to, kaiAfter with Po to, Kai
The opposite: after, followed by a clause.
Level 4 - kolWhile and Until with Kol
Kol with a negative verb can also mean before something happens.
Level 3 - Commas Before Subordinate Clauses
Explains the commas around the clause.
Level 4 - kai tikAs Soon as with Kai Tik
Another time clause: as soon as.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice prieš tai, kai in Bubblegum
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