What language came before English?

There's no single language that came *before* English. Here's why:

* English is a Germanic language. It evolved from Proto-Germanic, which was spoken by people who migrated to Britain around the 5th century AD.

* The British Isles had existing languages. Before the Germanic tribes arrived, the inhabitants of Britain spoke various Celtic languages, like Brittonic.

* Languages are constantly changing. Proto-Germanic itself came from an earlier language, Proto-Indo-European, and so on. It's like a family tree, with branches leading back to older and older ancestors.

So, to answer your question more precisely:

* The language spoken in Britain *before* English was a mix of Celtic languages.

* The language *that evolved into* English was Proto-Germanic.

Let me know if you want to delve deeper into the history of English!