Before的翻译
连词before是一个常用词，在状语从句中一般译为“在……之前”，但在很多情况下，由于英汉两种语言的差异，before的翻译极为复杂，不能一律译为“在……之前”。例如：
It was an awkward moment, for he needed to compose himself before he could greet Charlotte, but he was clearly eager to greet her before he could compose himself.
这一刹那是尴尬的，他需要先使自己镇定一下，才能向夏洛蒂问好。但是他还没来得及镇定下来。显然就迫不及待地先向她致意了。
Before在这段文字中出现了两次，两处有不同的译法，即“先……才能……”和“还没来得及……就”。
在含表示时间的连词before引导的状语句中，有两个主要动词，表示两件事情一前一后发生，或说甲在乙先，或说乙在甲后，视具体情况用汉语确切而通顺地表达出来，并突出应强调的一方。因此，before的翻译很灵活，它所对应的汉语极为丰富，不能拘泥于一种译法。以下是一些最常用的译法。
1. before译为“（在）……之前”
Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me.
在公鸡叫之前，你要说三次你不认识我。
You must not count your chickens before they are hatched.
小鸡尚未孵出之前不能算数。
2. before译为“来不及……”、“还没有来得及……就”
Before he could press the trigger, the plane had gone up again.
他还来不及扣动板机，飞机又飞高了。
Before we could stop him, he had rushed on to a potato plot and dug up one of the potatoes. 我们还来不及阻止他，他已经飞奔到一块土豆地里，挖出了一只土豆。
3. before译为“先……再（才）”
Before we could do the work well, the masses must be mobilized.
必须先把群众发动起来，才能做好我们的工作。
Sukarno felt that the Tavanese people had to be inspired with the idea of nationhood before they could be organized.
苏加诺认为，必须先激励爪哇人民的民族意识，才能把他们组织起来。
4. before译为“……才”
It was another five minutes before Matt heard him coming down the stairs.
又过了五分钟马特才听到他从楼梯上下来。
There is an hour to wait before we set off.
我们还得再等一小时才能出发。
5. before译为“……然后才”
Winter paused for dramatic effect before delivering the coup de grace.
为了增加戏剧性效果，温特停顿了一下，然后才给以致命的一击。
There was a hush before the audience exploded again.
观众鸦雀无声了一会儿，然后才爆发出雷鸣般的掌声。
6. before译为“不到……就”、“还没有……就”
They had not been married a month before they quarreled.
他们结婚还不到一个月就反目了。
I had not gone a mile before I felt tired.
我还没走完一英里就感到疲倦了。