Before

Question

Don't forget close the window before you go out.Is "before" a conjunction or a preposition in the above?I assume that it is a conjunction as it links two sentences but I'm not completely sure. The problem I have here is that sometimes clauses are objects of prepositions and I wonder whether there is a rule which helps tell a conjunction from preposition when "before" is followed by the clause.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousIs "before" a conjunction or a preposition in the above?

In traditional grammar it is a conjunction because it connects to a clause.

In more recent approaches to grammar, which you may or may not be aware of, it's called a preposition.

In traditional grammar a preposition doesn't take a clausal complement; in more recent approaches, it can.

CJ

Englishmaven · Answer

This is a good question. You could make the argument for either case. On the one hand, we can say that a noun clause can be the object of a preposition. On the other hand, if we look at the whole sentence, not just the part in question, we can see that we would characterize this sentence as a complex sentence based on the fact that we have an independent clause (Don't forget close the window) and a dependent clause (before you go out). Looking at it this way,"before" has to be a subordinating conjunction (dependent clause marker).,

We could do the same thing if we take the other option and claim that "before" is a preposition with an object that is a clause. If we do that, we would not be supporting the characterization of the sentence as a complex sentence. It is not altogether unusual for combinations of words to have more than one interpretation grammatically. "Before" has a kind of double duty here.

I would prefer to think of it as a conjunction in this situation. But it is good to note that the noun clause can function as the object of a preposition.

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimIn traditional grammar it is a conjunction because it connects to a clause.In more recent approaches to grammar, which you may or may not be aware of, it's called a preposition.In traditional grammar a preposition doesn't take a clausal complement; in more recent approaches, it can.

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, it may be a bit confusing, i.e. those 'modern' and traditional approaches. When you're just used to taking -ing form (going out following before) as a marker of preposition then suddenly there is a new school that say that a clause does the same.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousthen suddenly there is a new school that say that a clause does the same.

Right. It's the distinction between a finite clause complement (before you go) and a non-finite clause complement (before going), so the modern approach asks why 'before' should belong to a different lexical category just because it can take both kinds of complements (in addition to noun-phrase complements, as in before the war).

Traditional grammar allows categories to change because of context much more than the modern approach does.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousDon't forget close the window before you go out.

You do need 'to' before 'close' in the main clause.

Before

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