前に【まえに】

The expression 前に has two main uses: expressing time ("before") and expressing location ("in front of"). The specific meaning is determined by context and what comes before it.

Temporal: "before"

When used to indicate time, 前に means "before (doing something)" or "before (a point in time)."

Verb (dictionary form) + 前に – before doing something:

The verb before まえに前に is always in the dictionary form (plain non-past), regardless of the tense of the main clause.

Even though the overall sentence is past tense, くる来る stays in dictionary form – not きた来たまえに前に.

Noun + の + 前に – before a noun (event or time):

Time expression + 前に – a certain amount of time ago: When used with a duration like さんねん三年, いちじかん一時間, or ごふん五分, 前に means "ago."

Spatial: "in front of"

When used to indicate location, 前に means "in front of" or "before" in a physical sense.

Noun + の + 前に:

The spatial use often pairs with the verbs ある or いる to describe where something or someone is located.