前に (mae ni) means “before” when it follows a verb or an event noun, and “in front of” when it follows a place. After a length of time it means “ago”. It is JLPT N5 grammar, and the one rule that trips everyone up is that the verb before 前に is always in dictionary form, even when you’re talking about the past.
寝る前に, never 寝た前に. The verb before 前に doesn't change tense. The main verb at the end of the sentence carries the tense.
What does 前に（まえに） mean?
前 is the noun “front” or “before,” and に pins an action or thing to that point. Depending on what comes before it, you get three meanings:
- Verb / event + 前に = before doing: 寝る前に (before sleeping), 授業の前に (before class)
- Place + の前に = in front of: 駅の前に (in front of the station)
- Length of time + 前に = ago: 三年前に (three years ago)
All three share the same picture: something sits “ahead” of a reference point, in time or in space.
How to form 前に（まえに）
Verbs: use the plain dictionary form: 食べる前に, 行く前に, 来る前に, 勉強する前に. Not the ます-form, and not the た-form.
Nouns: put の in between: 食事の前に, 試験の前に, 銀行の前に.
Time lengths: no の. Attach 前に directly: 二日前に (two days ago), 一時間前に (an hour ago), 十年前に (ten years ago).
If the 前に clause has its own subject, mark it with が: 母が帰る前に (before Mom gets home).
When is 前に（まえに） used?
You use 前に to order two actions when the earlier one is the main news: brushing your teeth before bed, studying before a trip, washing your hands before eating. The main clause (what you do) comes last, and the 前に clause sets the deadline.
It’s also the standard way to give locations with あります and います: 駅の前にコンビニがあります. Directions, maps, and meeting places all lean on it.
With a length of time, it answers “how long ago?”: 五年前に日本へ来ました.
The register is neutral. It works in polite speech, casual speech, and writing.
前に（まえに） example sentences
寝る前に本を読みます。
I read a book before I go to sleep.
日本に行く前に、ひらがなを勉強しました。
Before I went to Japan, I studied hiragana.
食事の前に手を洗ってください。
Please wash your hands before meals.
母が帰る前に、部屋を掃除しました。
I cleaned my room before my mom got home.
駅の前にコンビニがあります。
There's a convenience store in front of the station.
三年前に東京へ来ました。
I came to Tokyo three years ago.
Look at the second example: 行く is dictionary form, but the whole sentence is past because the final verb is 勉強しました. The same goes for the fourth example, where 帰る stays in dictionary form.
Nuance of 前に（まえに）
The dictionary form before 前に makes sense once you see the logic. At the moment you studied hiragana, the trip to Japan had not happened yet. Japanese describes it as still “to come” (行く), and the main verb places the whole story in the past. English does the opposite and shifts both verbs into the past, which is why learners want to write 行った前に.
For location, 前に marks where something exists. It pairs with あります, います, and verbs like 置く (put) and 立つ (stand). If someone is doing an action in front of a place, like waiting, meeting, or taking a photo, switch the particle to で: 駅の前で待ちます.
Sometimes you’ll see 前 without に, as in 寝る前は本を読みます. Using は adds contrast (“before bed, at least, I read”). 前に is the plain, default version.
Ago vs before: 三年前に (no の) = three years ago. 三年の前に sounds strange. With lengths of time, 前 attaches directly.
前に（まえに） vs 後で
The two are mirror images, and their verb forms mirror each other too: dictionary form + 前に, た-form + 後で. You can remember it by timing. Before the action, it hasn’t happened yet (る). After it, it’s already done (た). Learn 後で properly in the 後で lesson. At N5, you’ll also meet てから, which is a closer everyday partner for “after doing.”
Common mistakes with 前に（まえに）
Even for past events, the verb before 前に stays in dictionary form. Only the final verb shows past tense.
Politeness goes on the final verb only. The ます-form can't come before 前に.
に marks where something exists. For an action happening in front of a place, use で.
Is 前に（まえに） on the JLPT?
Yes. 前に is standard N5 grammar and vocabulary, used for both time and place.
- Verb-form questions: pick the dictionary form (行く) before 前に, and the た-form before 後で.
- Particle questions: の after a noun (食事の前に), nothing after a time length (二年前に).
- Listening: map and direction dialogues use の前に constantly. Also listen for 前に vs 後ろに (behind).
Practice questions for 前に（まえに）
Show answer
走る前に水を飲みます。 — I drink water before I run.
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テストを受ける前に、たくさん勉強しました。 — I studied a lot before I took the test.
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家の前に大きい木があります。 — There's a big tree in front of my house.
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二年前に日本語の勉強を始めました。 — I started studying Japanese two years ago.
Learning path for 前に（まえに）
Related grammar to review next
- 後で: the “after” counterpart, which takes the た-form instead of the dictionary form.
- てから: the N5 way to say “after doing,” often used in the same routines as 前に.
- とき: another time clause where the choice between dictionary form and た-form changes the meaning.
- があります: the verb that the location use (の前に…があります) pairs with.
- で: the particle you switch to when an action happens in front of a place.
Learn 前に（まえに） with Hane
Hane trains 前に with the dictionary-form rule built in, so 寝る前に comes out right without you stopping to think. You’ll review it next to 後で and てから until before and after feel automatic. Try Hane.
FAQ about 前に
What does 前に (mae ni) mean in Japanese?
前に (mae ni) means “before or in front of”. It is JLPT N5 grammar. 前 is the noun “front” or “before,” and に pins an action or thing to that point.
How do you form 前に (mae ni)?
Verb (dictionary form) + 前に Noun + の + 前に Time length + 前に Verbs: use the plain dictionary form: 食べる前に, 行く前に, 来る前に, 勉強する前に. Not the ます-form, and not the た-form. Nouns: put の in between: 食事の前に, 試験の前に, 銀行の前に. Time lengths: no の.
What is the difference between 前に and 後で?
前に: before · dictionary form. 後で（あとで）: after · た-form.
What is an example sentence with 前に (mae ni)?
寝る前に本を読みます。 — I read a book before I go to sleep.