Here's how it works with verbs:
* Preposition: "Before" can be a preposition, meaning it introduces a noun or pronoun that functions as the object of the preposition. In this case, "before" is followed by a noun or pronoun, not a verb.
* Example: "We arrived before the concert started." (Here, "before" introduces the noun phrase "the concert")
* Adverb: "Before" can also be an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this case, it doesn't directly precede the verb but rather describes when the action happens.
* Example: "Please finish the work before leaving." (Here, "before" modifies the verb "finish" and tells us when it should happen)
* Conjunction: "Before" can be a conjunction, connecting two clauses. In this case, it introduces a dependent clause that describes the time of the main clause's action.
* Example: "Before you go, make sure to lock the door." (Here, "before" connects the dependent clause "Before you go" to the main clause "make sure to lock the door")
Therefore, "before" doesn't always come directly before a verb, but it can modify or describe the action of a verb.