Difference
06 Oct 2015 20:40
Mr. Singh
MemberCan somebody tell me , When to use ‘Before’ and when to use ‘In front of’? Do these prepostions have same meaning?
1.You can dance ........ me.
2.He killed the thief .......... me.
3.You don’t have to shy….....me.
What would be the best preposiotion in above sentences?Explain the rules also.
6anurag9
Memberboth are okay.
@A
saral1
Member@AP
‘Before’ and ‘in front of’ are not exactly the same. ‘In front of’ is only used in relation to place. That means the opposite of ‘behind’ for example:
There is a garden in front of our house.
He parked his car in front of the shop.
The man would not smoke cigarettes in front of his elders.
Before can be used in this way correctly but it is more difficult and old fashioned.
‘Before’ is normally used to refer to order in time. For example:
The man went to bed before the other people in his family.
I will finish the work before lunch.
If it rains before 10am we will cancel the picnic.
In this way, for your examples
1.You can dance ........ me.
Both could be OK depending on whether you meant time or place. If you meant ‘in front of’ it would mean you allow someone to dance where you can see them. ‘Before’ would mean earlier.
2.He killed the thief .......... me.
Can only be ‘in front of’ as it is not possible to kill someone twice and the use of ‘before’ for place here would be very outdated. However ‘before my eyes’ would not be unusual here.
3.You don’t have to shy….....me.
Could be either but ‘in front of’ would be more normal. ‘Before’ here would be quite grand as if the speaker were a god or a lord with the old world sense of the word ‘before’ referring to place here.
gvshwnth
ModeratorExcellent answer by saral1.
GV
saral1
MemberThanks MahaGuru gvshwnth.
Jagdish2014
Member@saral1
Superb!!!
Request you to participate more for the benefit of all.
Regards
Jagdish
gvshwnth
Moderator@saral1
I echo Jagdish’s request.
More people like you are needed on this forum.
Please spare whatever time you can.
It is a noble cause.
Regards
GV
6anurag9
MemberI echo the same of Guru ji.
@A 😉
o_O
munishmonga
MemberMe too
6anurag9
MemberKya (Saral) ye (Kathin) kaam kar payega??
Jaan-ne ke liye hamare saath bane rahiye… 😉
@A
o_O
saral1
MemberThanks to all for your kind words. I will try to take a more active part but have limited time.
Just so you know a little about me I have been an English teacher for quite some time. I am Australian so English is my first language.
I have a huge love of India so every so often I post a query about something to do with Hindi which is a language that I love as well.
I agree that it is fantastic to have a language forum like this.
Regards to all.
S1.
gvshwnth
ModeratorDear Saral1
Thanks for introducing yourself.
I am thrilled to know we have a native English Speaker here, and an English teacher too!
We extend a warm welcome to you.
Please spare whatever little time you can, whenever you can.
Greetings to you and all Australians from me on behalf of citizens of India.
You can know more about me here:
gravatar.com/vishvanaathjee
Regards
GV
saral1
Membergvshwnthji,
Thank you again for your warm welcome. i appreciate that very much.
Thanks also for the website which I looked at. Congratulations on your achievements and family.
They are very impressive.
Best wishes
S1