The French terms avant, avant de, and avant que all relate to the concept of “before,” but they are used in different contexts and structures. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Avant:

This is a preposition that means “before” in a general sense and is used to indicate time or position. It is usually followed by a noun or pronoun.

• Example: Avant le dîner, nous avons fait une promenade.
  • (“Before dinner, we went for a walk.”)

2. Avant de:

This is a phrase used when expressing an action that takes place before another action. It is followed by an infinitive verb and indicates the completion of one action before starting another.

• Example: Avant de partir, j’ai rangé ma chambre.
  • (“Before leaving, I cleaned my room.”)

3. Avant que:

This phrase is used to introduce a subordinate clause, usually with its verb in the subjunctive mood. It also indicates an action that happens before another, but it requires a clause with a subject and verb.

• Example: Je veux partir avant qu’il ne pleuve.
  • (“I want to leave before it rains.”)

Key Differences:

• Avant is used with a noun.
• Avant de is used with an infinitive verb (to describe actions happening before another action).
• Avant que introduces a clause, typically with the subjunctive verb form, to describe an event that happens before another event in a more complex structure.