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# beforehand

«beforehand» in Mova's school dictionary: **earlier, before something else happens, often to get ready** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb (beforehand)

### meaning for a pupil

Beforehand means earlier, before something else happens, often to get ready. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life and safety, children are told to check things beforehand: tell an adult beforehand where you are going, read the instructions beforehand, go to the toilet beforehand. In science experiments, you make a prediction beforehand and test it afterwards. In maths word problems, «beforehand» marks the amount at the start. Opposite: afterwards.

### examples

- Wash your hands beforehand. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x1)
- Tell your parents beforehand where you are going. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x2)
- I made a prediction beforehand. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x3)
- We practised beforehand so the play went well. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x4)
- Go to the toilet beforehand, because the trip is long. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x5)
- She had 20 marbles beforehand and 14 afterwards, so she lost 6. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x6)
- Read the questions beforehand. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x7)
- If you can't come, let us know beforehand. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x8)
- Vasilissa went into her little closet, set before the doll a supper which she had provided beforehand, and said: [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/#x9)

### note

One word. It comes at the end of a sentence or clause and does not take an object: «I did it beforehand», not «beforehand the party» (say «before the party»). Opposite: afterwards (UK) or afterward (US). In maths, the amount «beforehand» is the starting number.

### In the corpora

- [Stars go on chat shows mainly to promote a new film, book or tour, and their funny stories are often practised beforehand.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/53-breakfast-and-chat-shows-celebrity-gossip-on-the-sofa/10/)
- [At a funeral it is fine to cry or to be quiet, and asking what will happen beforehand helps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/97-moving-change-and-grief/15/)
- [To present to the class, you practise beforehand, speak slowly and loudly, and look at the audience.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/256-questions-group-work-and-adults-at-school/12/)
- [You do not owe money for something when no price was agreed beforehand.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/445-the-older-kids-trade/35/)
- [Dreading something can make the body release the stress hormone cortisol beforehand, and a sore tummy is a common sign of that worry.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/68-the-coach-who-shouts-and-parents-on-the-touchline/16/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «beforehand» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beforehand/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.