Avant de + infinitive = Before + -ing in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2023-01-16
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In French, to express "before" + ing , you use "avant de" + Infinitif.

Using "avant de" with Infinitif in French

Look at these sentences:

Ferme la porte à clé avant de partir !Lock the door before leaving!

Elle veut vérifier avant de prendre une décision.She wants to check before making a decision.

Avant de commencer, il aimerait porter un toast.Before starting, he'd like to raise a toast.

To express before + -ing in French, you use avant de followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

Note that any object pronoun or reflexive pronoun is placed between de and the infinitive.

J'étais malheureux avant de te rencontrer.I was unhappy before meeting you.

J'avais des doutes avant de lui parler.I had doubts before talking to him.

Lisez ce contrat avant de nous contacter.Read this contract before contacting us.

See the more advanced Avant que + ne explétif + subjunctive (Le Subjonctif) = Before I do in French

 

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Examples and resources

J'étais malheureux avant de te rencontrer.I was unhappy before meeting you.
Avant de commencer, il aimerait porter un toast.Before starting, he'd like to raise a toast.
Elle veut vérifier avant de prendre une décision.She wants to check before making a decision.
Ferme la porte à clé avant de partir !Lock the door before leaving!
J'ai pédalé dans la choucroute pendant une semaine avant de trouver une solution.I really struggled for a week before finding a solution.
J'avais des doutes avant de lui parler.I had doubts before talking to him.
Lisez ce contrat avant de nous contacter.Read this contract before contacting us.
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