Brottin

TOPIC · Sentence structure & conjunctions

BEVOR – VOR – VORHIN – VORHER – DAVOR

B1

After this lesson you can clearly distinguish „bevor“, „vor“, „vorhin“, „vorher“ and „davor“ and use them correctly in your own German sentences.

In this lesson you learn how to use „bevor“, „vor“, „vorhin“, „vorher“ and „davor“ to express time relations in German.

1„bevor“ – conjunction with a Nebensatz

„bevor“ is a conjunction that introduces a Nebensatz (subordinate clause). One action happens before another action.

Key points:

  • „bevor“ + conjugated verb at the end of the Nebensatz.
  • The Nebensatz with „bevor“ can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
  • There is always a comma between main clause and Nebensatz.
SentenceMeaning
Bevor ich ins Kino gehe, lese ich ein Buch.I read first, then I go to the cinema.
Ich lese ein Buch, bevor ich ins Kino gehe.Same meaning, different order.
Bevor wir essen, waschen wir uns die Hände.First we wash our hands, then we eat.
Ich rufe dich an, bevor ich losfahre.The call happens first.

2„vor“ – preposition with Dativ

Here „vor“ is a preposition (not the comparative „vor … als“). It is used with the Dativ and marks a time before another time or event.

Pattern: „vor“ + noun in Dativ (article must be in Dativ).

SentenceMeaning
Vor meinem Urlaub mache ich viele Pläne.I make many plans before my vacation.
Vor dem Essen wasche ich mir die Hände.I wash my hands before the meal.
Vor der Prüfung bin ich immer nervös.I am always nervous before the exam.
Vor dem Haus steht ein Auto.Spatial: a car is parked in front of the house.

Typical mistake: after „vor“ you cannot put a full clause with verb at the end. For that you use „bevor“.

  • Correct: Ich gehe spazieren, bevor es dunkel wird.
  • Incorrect: Ich gehe spazieren, vor es dunkel wird.

3„vorhin“ – adverb for “a short time ago”

„vorhin“ is an adverb. It describes something that happened a short time ago (minutes or a few hours, not yesterday or last week).

Position: usually at the beginning of the sentence or before the conjugated verb.

SentenceMeaning
Vorhin habe ich einen Film gesehen.I watched a film a short while ago.
Ich habe dich vorhin angerufen.I called you a short time ago.
Was hast du vorhin gesagt?What did you say a moment ago?

4„vorher“ – adverb without a very specific reference

„vorher“ says that something happens earlier, before a mentioned point in time. It often stands in a separate sentence and refers to the situation in general.

SentenceMeaning
Ich gehe jetzt zum Arzt. Vorher sollte ich essen.I am going to the doctor now; before that I should eat.
Überleg dir das vorher gut.Think about it carefully beforehand.
Ich kannte ihn schon vorher.I already knew him before that time.

„vorher“ does not need a very explicit reference like „das“ in the same sentence; the reference is more general (“earlier / previously”).

5„davor“ – adverb with a clear reference

„davor“ is similar in meaning to „vorher“, but it has a clear reference to something concrete, usually mentioned directly before.

SentenceMeaning
Ich habe den Film gesehen. Davor kannte ich das Buch.I saw the film; before that I knew the book.
Wir hatten einen Streit. Davor war alles gut.We had an argument; before that everything was fine.
Stell die Tasche nicht direkt vor die Tür. Davor steht schon ein Stuhl.Don’t put the bag right in front of the door; there is already a chair there.

Remember:

  • „vorher“ = more general “previously / earlier”.
  • „davor“ = “before that / in front of that”, with a concrete previous event or object.

summaryEn: After this lesson you can clearly distinguish „bevor“, „vor“, „vorhin“, „vorher“ and „davor“ and use them correctly in your own German sentences.